"Armaj Das" is really one of the best beginner routes in the canyon. It's on par with "Staircase." Begin around left of the toe of the right-hand buttress.
Pitch 1: Climb easy cracks up right to a belay on a stance.
Pitch 2: Work up right on the slabby face and finish up right of a right-angling dihedral system.
Walk-off to the right (east).
Protection
Standard rack with a set of Stoppers and small to medium Friends.
This is a very nice climb and although I would rate it three stars, it is harder than Staircase. But then it seems we started farther to the right than the route description indicates in a steeper crack system. There are belay anchors in place now at the tree at the end of the second pitch and a two bolt anchor on a big ledge just right of the first pitch belay.
A very straight forward route. I think the 5.5 rating is right on maybe even a little generous in lieu of the fact that School Daze is rated 5.5 and is definitely a sharper climb. This is a well protected, fairly rated, and most enjoyable climb.
If you start up the steeper crack there are a few moves harder than 5.5 but I believe the route starts just left of the crack on flakes...either way is fun and both pitches are easily combined.
After all the good press, I finally tried this route. I wasn't super impressed, thus the single star.
P1: Kind of a vague beginning - lots of huge holds. Just go from ledge to ledge. The only difficulty is the mental one of your pro actually being helpful in case of a fall. There is a piton about 15 feet up to ease that a little. Rope drag can be an issue as you zig-zag up. I ended P1 at the large flake/roof about 15 feet too high.
P2: The climbing finally got fun as you move around the flake/roof and lieback up to the tree. This was a little too short in comparison to the longer P1.
It would be worth trying to get to the big tree ledge with a single 60m rope. I didn't see any belay anchors at the tree ledge as mentioned above.
By Buff Johnson From: Coniferous, CO Jan 24, 2006 rating: 5.5
A little more intimidating lead than Jolly Jugular, lots of flakes that make you feel as if they would slide off. Pro was not as good as I had hoped. I would say this is not "on par" with the Staircase; this route is more of a double bogey.
Used 60M to the tree ledge; used the tree for the belay, seemed solid to me. Short exposed traverse to another tree, roped up just in case, this section was 4th. Walk off to the North, didn't rap as many parties working on this rock.
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