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The Inquisition 

WI5 M5

   
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FA: Greg Sievers & Brian Verhulst (*incomplete)
New Route: Yes
Type: Trad, Mixed, Ice
Consensus: WI5 M5 [details]
Length: 4 pitches, 550 feet, Grade IV
Season: FA - October 29, 2007
Views: 614 page views

Submitted By: Greg Sievers on Apr 3, 2008


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BETA PHOTO: Inquisition (M5) shown on Vanquished Wall.


Description 

Located on the left side of the Vanquished Wall, just right of the base of a large buttress. This route climbs up and right from the start in a large RFD at the base. the first two pitches trend right.

P1 - stem past several small loose blocks and ice blobs and up 30' into a dish (the bigger gully contiinues left - don't bother). Step right into a a pair of cracks and climb directly up until they peter out. Step right, and make a 15' traverse right into a 5' wide chimney. Continue til you use up most of your rope, and have a 2' square ledge to belay on. (M4).

P2 - follow the chimney directly above until in constricts down to a squeeze. It will slant up and right, and continue in that style until it opens into a large basin. (M4).

P3 - climb up ledges in this 30' bowl and aim for the obvious, ice-plastered wall above. There is a 5' kite-shaped chockstone above, and the ice flows around that. Move up this WI5, pass the kite stone and belay on a large ledge immedately below a verglas ramp. (M5).

P4 - use the RFD for nuts to protect the verglas for 20', then commit to the ice for another 30'. Scratch up over the bulge and continue past ledges, aiming for a 12" rising (to the right) fold in the rock. the upward rising crack continues above the fixed (current final) station.

  • * We ran out of day here, but it appears the line continues for about 2 more pitches on this wall.


Location 

150' left of Vanquished.

Circumnavigate Sky Pond, and depart the shore up into the gentle valley/gully headed toward the Vanquished wall. This gully will lead directly to the wall, but instead of turning right toward Vanquished, continue up and left into a large cleft and big, right-facing dihedral (see image).

3 rap stations descend the wall on a plumb line:
Top rap station = sling & nut, 150', step 10' right.
2nd rap station = nut & sling atop groove. rap 135'
3rd rap station = land on a 12" ledge, step 5' left to 2 nuts, rap 135'


Protection 

The usual alpine mixed rack and 6 stubby screws.



Photos of The Inquisition Slideshow Add Photo
Looking up at P3, where the WI5 & M5 moves around the Kite Rock are the crux.

Looking up at P3, where the WI5 & M5 moves around ...

Brian Verhulst leading the start to P4, on the verglas.

BETA PHOTO: Brian Verhulst leading the start to P4, on the ver...

Most of P3 in view. GS just completing the crux.

Most of P3 in view. GS just completing the crux.

BV followng P1.

BV followng P1.

View looking up from the start at P1 & P2. The rappel line is the obvious, black streak in the LFD.

BETA PHOTO: View looking up from the start at P1 & P2. The rap...

Sky Pond below & the path of access.

BETA PHOTO: Sky Pond below & the path of access.

Route topo.

Route topo.

The developed line thus far.

BETA PHOTO: The developed line thus far.

BV leading P4.

BETA PHOTO: BV leading P4.