Crystallize starts below the big bush 15 feet up the cliff and fires briefly up the right of two parallel cracks. The rock is excellent, the cruxes distinct, and the climbing continuous. There is useful beta for the start that may avoid a minor thrash, and that is to make the first two clips, step back down, move right up the crack, and then step back over the second clip. Straight up from 2 to 3 is almost impossible. Crystallize has three cruxes, and the first can be a real stopper - at least for some of us old farts. Expect about ten feet of 5.12 in the first crux, a strenuous "rest", a short section of very technical 5.12 crimps, followed by a good rest. The final crux may only be 5.11, but by the time you arrive it will seem a lot more difficult - and spooky. Before slashing his right palm, Mark solved the link up on TR pretty much as I had worked it out originally on jugs. But Tony took my breath away on gorgeous sprint through for the red point. Passing the fifth clip as he did could produce a nasty slam into the ledge below if you don't commit to it. He backclipped well below his feet in a very tenuous and bold move. A more comforting approach would be to drop a sling from the fifth clip, clip low, and then clip again once you step past it. Overall, Crystallize is a fine route with difficult, tricky, and powerful moves on excellent rock.
Location
Crystallize is the furthest bolted route on the right.
Protection
Ten draws, something for the double bolt anchor at the top, and a standard rope.
The Crystal Tower
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