This is the killer top pitch with great hands and ...
Description
An aesthetic hand crack in a vertical to overhanging dihedral on Skinner Mountain's obvious headwall, Central Corner provides pleasant if sometimes awkward jams, great pro, and fantastic position. Definitely three stars and worth the hike up to Skinner just for this climb.
Central Corner proper is actually the third pitch of any number of climbs on Skinner's lower section. The fastest way to reach the base is by climbing the first two pitches of Wally World (easy). It can also be reached by climbing your choice of a 5.7 slab, a 5.8 slab, or a 5.9- slab beginning around the corner to the left of the start of Wally World. Just pick a line of bolts and head up.
Once in view of the vertical to slightly overhanging headwall, Central Corner is obvious as the only feasible (for mere mortals) line, located in the ominous-looking dihedral approximately in the middle of the headwall. Begin with a few awkward moves to establish yourself in the crack and then fire up past a couple of overhangs to the top. A short wider spot near the bottom can be skirted by using a thin crack on the face. There is really no obvious crux - just fairly sustained 9+ the whole way up.
Protection
About 4 #2 Camalots and 2 #3 Camalots would really sew it up. Otherwise, take a standard rack weighted towards hand-sized pieces: a few medium and large hexes, a small selection of medium stoppers (a #6 Stopper is just about right), a #1 Camalot, at least two #2 Camalots/2.5 Friends and one #3 Camalot or #4 Friend.
Great pitch that looks harder from the start than it is. Best approach seems to be the 5.7ish slab route with welded cold shuts.
I think a single set of cams with two #4 Friends (an extra #3.5 would work, too) protects this well. I brought doubles in the hand sizes and was good with a single #2.5, 3, and 3.5 Friend. Just FYI for those who don't feel like lugging the extra gear only to sit on it at the belay. There's a few placements on the face for smaller stuff.
Descent: scramble off the backside and find a faint trail to climber's right.
Skinner Mountain
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