The exact details of the FA are unknown to me but I believe this line is as described below based upon the fixed equipment on the route and the information from Rossiter's Dream Canyon/Boulder Canyon guide. This is an obscure but compelling aid line up the middle of Lost Angel. It follows the prominent R-arching dihedral. Apparently attempts have been made to free some, if not all, of this route. Bring at least a gallon of water if done in the summer. It comes into the sun about 1pm.
Likely this route will go clean. We were only 2 pins away.
IF YOU DON'T WANT BETA, PLEASE READ NO FURTHER. Otherwise, here's the poop:
P1. There are probably at least 3 possible starts for the first pitch. You can follow the most direct line up the first pitch of Earth Voyage past 5 bolts to a 2 bolt anchor. This requires a brief bit of 5.9 climbing to the 1st bolt, then a cam or two and a hook move about mid pitch, and high-stepping the bolts to reach a small ledge. Alternatively, you can do a bit of free climbing with the 1st pitch of Archangel 5.9 past 3 bolts to a 2 bolt anchor just R of Earth Voyage's 1st anchor. Finally, a line of more traditional features lies between these starts and can finish on either anchor. C2. 50 ft.
P2. This pitch can be combined with P1. Start up the prominent R-facing dihedral reminiscent of Yosemite. Use a tenuous hook move early and then small cams to .33 Alien, Lowe balls, fixed bashies, a fixed pin, modern bolts, stoppers/RP to gain the modern, Fixe, 2-bolt anchor with ring plus old 1/4" bolt anchor at a semi-hanging belay. Pretty pitch. C2+. 50 ft. There is a possible cam hook placement attempted that blew about 1/3 the way up this pitch.
P3. This pitch continues up the same dihedral sans modern bolts. The crack in the dihedral widens a bit. We used a #3 and #4 Camalot to start; however, a wider cam (#4.5) might fill the crack tighter. Then smaller to mid size cams, Lowe ball(s), a bashie, a hook move around an awkward bit leads you to where Rock Odyssey crosses the route out a roof. Here we used a knifeblade just before the buttonhead and Star-driven 1/4" bolt with single-biner-hole-Leeper hanger semi-hanging belay. A2+, nearly C2+. 80 ft.
P4. This is where the route gets significantly more funky and feels like a traverse. The roof overhangs the dihedral significantly here and keeps the rock from getting cleaned. The slab below the dihedral sheds exfoliative flakes. The rock in the corner has a much wilder feel to it. High-step up off the belay (gotta trust those tiny bits of metal) to a #0.5 Camalot placement, then sigh a bit at a medium wire placement. At that point, there is a flare that blew a #1 Friend placement and prompted us to utilize a LA in crumbly rock. Aid masters may find obvious clean placements that escaped us. Then, utilize the roof crack with a #1 Camalot and then a smaller cam. Then tie off the fixed partially driven LA. Hook here to gain small cam placements. Then move right with 3 cams on top of a large rounded flake. Here, excavation of 4 hook placements yielded tenuous edges at the crux here. It may be possible to free climb here for those desiring the switch. A few more cam placements bring you to a cramped, pigeon-like belay with 2 good #3 Camalot placements. Wires and other cams may reinforce this belay. A3+ (nearly C3+). 70 ft.
P5. You see the exit here just before the guano! The dihedral here traverses to a roof crack. Use cams, a possible red tricam, wires, and a fixed Leeper Z pin to gain the lip. A 0.5 Camalot placement just past the roof gives you a view of the modern, Fixe, 2-bolt anchor with rings 9 feet past the lip. This is an awkward semi-hanging belay stance. You can rappel to a modern, Fixe, 2-bolt anchor with ringanchor (2nd belay of Rock Odyssey) and rappel again to the ground. C2+. 60 ft.
P6. Optional pitch from here goes up moderate free ground to the top.
All in all, a longer day than you would guess from below. Cleaning P4 and P5 is taxing.
Protection
Double small cams down to .33 Alien, triple middle size cams to #2 Camalot, double #3 Camalots, 1- #4 Camalot, 1 set of wires, a few Lowe-balls, a few bigger RPs, 1 LA, 1 knifeblade, 1 48"+ sling to lower out, 2 tie-off slings, hooks, possible tricams (red & black), perhaps some offset wires. 2 ropes useful to rappel off.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT NAIL THE SECOND PITCH. It is a free climb and has been climbed without the bolts by Adam Stack. Please don't ruin this 5.13b/c free pitch. If you don't have the ability to climb it on clean aid bring a stick clip. Thanx.
Y'all need to get the route comments changed as soon as possible! If it doesn't go C3 5.9 then it should be marked 5.13a-d. Hmmmm maybe take it up with Leo.
Wow! nice job, Adam! I would like to point out that the upper pitches have not gone free or clean (aid) and that's why the China Doll route is not rated purely as a free climb. This sounds like a great challenge for Adam and any other strong climbers to attempt. Further more, as demonstrated by the ascent of the first pitch sans bolts, I would like to please ask anyone attempting it to NOT ADD any more bolts to this climb. This route could be a long, hard, TRAD test piece. (Well, except for the bolts on the first pitch!)
What's the deal I know Adam Stack did this climb without clipping any bolts but was it and is it a 13b/c sport climb with bolts or did he just climb (which pitch P1/2?) the clean aid route free, there seems to be some confusion, the ad in Rock and Ice says he ignored the bolts??? Thanks for an info, awesome send, Adam, one of the best this year.
First claimed P2 as a free lead by Bob Horan at .12d. early 90s. Claim contested by many. Later freed by Alan Lester, with the use of a glued-on foothold, at .13b/c. Origins of foothold unknown. Mr. Lester used bolts placed by Mr. Horan to protect it. Mr. Stack placed gear, using a fixed pin, avoided the bolts. Unknown status of use of the glued-on foothold by Mr. Stack.
All of the above is unverified spray. Sources many.
With reference to Bob Horan's free ascent of China Dolls second pitch, I was there filming him making the first free ascent and had been there several other times over the years as he tried to free this awesome pitch. His final rating was 5.13c/d. not 5.12d. He began working on this crack climb in the later eighties, attempting to free it with natural gear save for the fixed pins from the aid ascent. He got pretty darn far and was able to put all the moves together but never as a whole flawless ascent. He told me that the gear was to scary and that he feared a desperate fall at the top. He gave up and then returned years later, after bolting several of the walls longer routes such as Earth Voyage, Rock Odyssey, etc. He then began to top rope the pitch and over several return visits, wired the route making easy ascents of the pitch in repetition. He then decided to bolt the pitch and go for the lead with bolts. It took him only a few tries to complete the lead. He really thought by that time that it was really not to bad. He left it at that. Alan Lester worked it out at a much later time and completed the lead with the bolts after only a few days of attempting it, I believe he rated it 5.13b. Anyways as usual someone once again tries to push Horan out of the lime light of his accomplishments. Sorry boys, but that's just the way
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