Trigger Finger 

A fine route, but so many holds have broken off now that the rating is anyone's guess. It's at least 9+ now.

I should have mentioned that a 60m rope will JUST reach the beginning of Cowboy Boot Crack from the upper bolts. I would agree that it should be at least 9+, but what the hell do those Nebraska climbers know?

While their knowledge of some of the more technical aspects of climbing may often be subpar, Nebraska climbers do tend exude a certain quiet, yet resolute confidence on the rock, likely due to close contact with a football team that wins more than once every ten years.

Bold words for someone whose team doesn't even have scoreboard.

In my estimation, it would be VERY easy to get off-route on Trigger Finger. The last time I climbed there, there was a far easier line heading off to the left, and it would of course be very tempting to hop on to Cowboy Boot Crack for some of the more difficult sections.

Does anyone know the name of the route to the left of Trigger Finger?

All this talk about Nebraksan climbers reminds me so much of a typical day at the garden.....One time i was with my friend on Montezuma and a goup of 3 climbers (they were texans) comes up asking us where they could find some easy leads to get started on....I looked down at their rack and i Ric Geiman's guide....brand new....and they got all these fancy looking draws (probobly $20 a pop) and all these funky nuts and hexes.......all brand new! My guess is one of them had been to the gym once for boy scouts and they all decided to spend a couple hundred dollars on a sport they know nothing about.....why the hell do they always come here???

Now, I don't want to be negative here or slamming anyone, but I have to take exception to the previous comment. I too am one of these Nebraska climbers. I don't claim to be an exceptional climber, I am not a local, heck I just started climbing three years ago. But I do love being outside enjoying a unique experience with cool people. Whenever I talk to new climbers I remind myself that I started like them also. These guys are just trying to develop into climbers that will not need help. It should be our job as relatively experienced climbers to instill the proper ideals and etiquette in new climbers that we know ourselves. Hopefully they will then pass that on to people they meet. There shouldn't be a need to claiim an area as "my spot", the rock and the outdoors are there for everyone to enjoy. This is not an attack at anyone, it is just my personal philosophy on what the climbing experience is all about.

Gee, Dave, sorry you think only the "right people" deserve to climb on "your rock", as it appears from your post. Perhaps you should look at my profile and Darin's before spouting. If you bothered, you might discover that I am a Nebraska climber, yes, but that I grew up in Colorado Springs. Does that give me an adequate enough pedigree to climb at the Garden? Darin is from Nebraska, too, but currently resides in Castle Rock. Does he get to learn the secret handshake required for climbing at the Garden?

I have to admit I'm impressed that you are able to fathom so much about a person's past, time spent on the rock, and native ability just based on a chance meeting, or a couple of throw-away posts made here at CB.com. I guess divisiveness is good in our small community.

Didnt have intentions of insulting anyone, there. My apologies to anyone upset by that one. i was talking only about a set of guys who didnt know what they were doing and had chosen to climb in the garden; i was not refering to the entire state of nebraska.

Look Dave, I realize that you were not coming after anyone in particular. But, and this is important, when you meet up with new or inexperience climbers, be cool to them. See what they are climbing, where they are from, stuff like that. Recommend some good climbs in the area, either at the Garden or somewhere close by. It is your responsibility to pass on the spirit and joy of climbing to both new climbers and non-climbers. This is coming from someone who always appreciates the locals taking an interest instead of being elitist. Basically keep it real and be positive.

I have to agree with Darin, again. I justclimbed this route last week and it felt like no other 5.9 I had ever done. Right before you get into the final "hiking" section of the climb, part of the edgy dish thing broke on me. That is a mangy little hold that is not worth much and not necessary for the climb, at least as a hand. A fun route though and a very good example of a Garden friction climb.

A new(er) falcon guide has this route at .10a, which seems fair. It's a tougher lead than the .9+'s in the Garden, i.e. Credibility Gap and Crescent Corner, imho. Only reason why these grades matter is that they let you know what you're ready for next, anyway.

Give it a bouldery .9+. Spicey lead.

This route is worthy and on excellent rock. Good friction and thoughtful moves. I would climb this again.