This route climbs the obvious spectacular right-leaning crack in the middle of Lost Angel Wall. The first pitch features technical stemming with a boulder-problem crux in the middle. The business of the second pitch is about 25 feet of sustained cranking up the thin arching crack.
Pitch 1- Climb a short 5.10ish bolted pitch to anchors where the crack begins. Continue up the crack either placing gear or clipping bolts on the right and finish at a 3-bolt anchor (5.13b/c)
Pitch 2- Do a couple of easy moves where the crack is wide. Come out of the offwidth and grovel with thruchy lieback moves and finger/tips locks for about 25 feet of super-pumpy rock climbing. At one point a glued-on hold was utilized here to avoid the difficulties. After running it out for the last 12 or so feet pull into a scoop where you can rest. Keep going up the crack and finish with tricky 5.11ish climbing to two hangerless bolts on the right. Stop here or continue up for about 10 feet then go left out the roof clipping two bolts that bring you to Beauty and the Bolts (11d). Top out Beauty and the Bolts or traverse left to anchors and go down. (5.13+)
The rest (P3-5) of China Doll apparently has not gone free.
Protection
The first pitch is protected by bolts and a pin but can be led on gear. For the second pitch a #3.5 Camalot, #4 Black Diamond nut, a larger nut and a couple of #0.75 cams or orange Aliens gets it done. More small gear to aid it or work it.
I did this route as a two pitch climb on pre-placed gear, but it can go in one tremendous pitch safely protected by gear placed on lead as well as clipping one piton and possibly a bolt. The two pitches are separated by a no-hands rest just before the first pitch anchors but it is still possible that linking them could up the grade. It is also possible that taller people may not get a good rest. However you choose to climb this route, I recommend it to anyone looking for an excellent and challenging crack close to Boulder.
I did this route in two pitches clipping bolts on the first and preplaced gear on the second. It is a continuous crack that could safely go as one tremendous pitch placing gear and clipping a piton. It may or may not up the grade since there is a no-hands rest before the first anchors, but it would certainly be a more bad-ass endeavor. However you climb it, it's an excellent and challenging crack climb super close to Boulder.
Good job, Mike Patz, but I am confused by this - I thought the first and second pitches had already been sent by Bob Horan, and the 1st and 2nd pitches had been sent without bolts by Adam Stack. Please clarify.
Congrats on free climbing the second pitch without adding bolts! Give yourself a high-five. I heard the glued foothold on the first pitch is gone. How did you do the middle section of this pitch?
I called the first pitch what the Rossiter book calls the first two pitches. At the first pitch crux where the route used to traverse right via a former glued-on foothold you must now go straight up. It is a difficult boulder problem and I have heard the pitch is now a little harder than when the glued foot was there, but if done on gear I think it would be much safer than when Adam did it traversing right. Also the route is now 100% natural.
Hey, Jim, did you send China Doll? If so, good send. You must be fit. BTW, how's it going. It's good to see a familiar face. I have been gone for a long time. KC
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