Cowboy Boot Crack 

This route just gobbles up small to medium stoppers. One can stop at the bolts for Trigger Finger, the .9 face climb just left of Cowboy, for a more manageable rappel. Remember the Garden mantra: Pull down, not out.

I did this route again on Sunday. There is a placement where the Cowboy Boot (the 15-foot tall finger-like formation near the bottom of the route) leans up against the headwall where one could girth-hitch a bridge (I hesitate to call it a pot-hole) between the Boot and the headwall. The bridge is dangerously eroded, and I doubt it would hold a fall.

To me, this raises an interesting question. Obviously, the bridge (or whatever you geologists would prefer to name it) has eroded because of use by climbers. What had been a beefy, thick naturally-occurring Big Bro when I first started climbing four years ago is now a mere finger's-width. I'm sure some natural erosion has taken place, but it's easy to see the groove where slings have been rubbing away at the rock. Besides not using this any more (I won't), do we as climbers have any affirmative obligations to repair the damage? Is there any cost-effective way to do it in the first place?

Just curious to see if anyone has any thoughts on this issue.

Can you climb the Tourist Gully and traverse left to set up a toprope?

It's certainly possible to traverse in to the anchor from the tourist gully. There are one or two mandatory fifth class moves, if the correct route is chosen. It feels more exposed than it looks from the ground.

You can climb the leftern part of the tourist gully to get to the anchors. It's a good way to get up and set up a nice TR. When you get ot the base of the route, just right, there is a small gully next to the tourist gully. Head up the one next to Cowboy. its not too tough but a little exposed. Then, when you get to the top, its just an easy move over a horn and you are right above the anchors.

Don't use the bridge-thing, I've never noticed it. You shouldn't need to place there - wait for the crack.

What a cool route...I like the hand and finger jams up top..

If you use the double ring bolt anchors at the top, bring your 60m rope for rappel. Stoppers, #1 camalot, and a draw (or two if you continue to the upper anchor) will sew it well.

Took some beginners out this afternoon and a friend ascended the Tourist Gully clearly trailing a rope to set up a TR and was told promptly by someone to get down. I was a bit irritated when I showed up to hear this as he was clearly a "technical climber" with rope and gear and climbing perfectly safely. So, the answer to the above is yes you can, but you may be shouted at.

Good route. Short, and leaves you wanting more. Found excellent placements for a 6 & 7 Hex (passive), and technical Friends 1.25" thru 2" (active). A lot of other placement opportunities, mostly small to medium nuts.