What is it about Ken Trout? He always gets to a crag first, and he always picks the cherrys. From Colorado and Wyoming to the Valley; Ken has been there, probably way ahead of the rest of us, and done the nicest lines. The Suset Arete is just another example of Ken's "been there, done that, and it's great". This route fires up the North-most route in the Winterfest area. It takes the obvious sharp arete up some lower angle stuff to start. Way too short for full, cigarette-toting-great-lay satisfaction, the Sunset Arete commands both sides of the arete for several moves and a couple of clips. Jog a bit to the right for the anchor clip. The trick in the Sunset Arete is not in climbing the arete, but in getting started on the arete. Really nice line, great fun, good stone. Typical Ken Trout contribution. Two stars for a Table Mountain line and three cheers for THE MAN.
Protection
QD only. This 60 ft route needs 6 -8 draws and something for the double bolt anchor at the top.
This route was bolted in 1990 and was the first "sport" route at Table. The few prexisting, excellent, bolt routes needed some level of gear placing and the anchors where over the rim. I only remember "Leaning Pillar", Flight 66 from Stockholm, The John Roskelly Show, Priests PBB, and the "Old Roof Route".
Hmmm... My group (my brother and a few friends) and a couple other groups had put up 30 or so routes by this time. We had been climbing up there for about 2 or 3 years and were trying to get other climbers to come up. Most of the routes at that time were trad or mixed gear including the ones you listed. We were hand drilling at the time which minimized the number of bolts we added (it certainly wasn't an ethics thing). If I remember correctly it took my brother, Scott, several attempts to convince you (Ken) to come up and check it out.
But there is no doubt that that is when things really took off. All of a sudden there were power drills everywhere up there - which in my mind was a good thing (though I do miss having the place to ourselves).
Glad your out there Richard! I do remember hearing about Table from you. I was truly skeptical and it took Annette to convince some of us to go up. She brought us to your Flight 66, a real eye-opener to what might be possible.
I think you guys should get credit for discovering Table in the new guides that are in the works. That is why I'm been blogging as much history as possible, so we don't lose it. My "first sport route" claim is based on the anchor style and lack of gearing. Not much of an accomplishment compared to proving the area worthy.
Winterfest Wall
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