Dick Van Dike  5.9-

1,290 page views Good page?

Type:  Sport, 1 pitch Consensus:  5.9- [details] FA:  Snively, Gillett, Huntsman Submitted By:  Old Fart aka Dave Bohn on Jun 1, 2001 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (9) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

Self-portrait on the lower half of Dick Van Dike, ...

Add Photo  Add Comment    Printer View

Description 

Given the name of the adjacent route to the left, "Law School" we were tempted to call this one "Walking the Green Mile". This is currently the furthest east (right) route on the rock. Scramble up to the first clip and wander past a few more hard to see clips until you can step left into a large, right-facing dihedral lined in fist-sized and larger quartz crystals, (some of questionable solidity). Step back right at the top, surmount a short headwall (crux), and get on the "Green Mile". This is a long, very fine grained, green intrusion that the rest of the climb follows. We were all tempted to use the fat crystals to either side, but in the end we all "Walked the Mile". Be aware that the clips are a long way apart through this section and several are impossible to see until your right on top of them. I would not suggest this route to a 5.9 leader whose only experience is in "Sport Bolted" climbs. The climbing up "The Mile" is probably only in the 5.7 range, but the leader needs to be comfortable running it out a bit. (As an aside, we also top-roped a direct connection to the headwall section, avoiding the traverse left into the dihedral staying well to the right. Excellent edging and if bolted would only take 3 clips or so as a variation, 10a/b, and would be a stupendous route.)

Protection 

14- 16 clips plus anchors.

Descent 

It's a double rope rap to get off (or 2 raps (single rope) using the intermediate anchors of "Law School" directly below to the west, down 75').

Photos of Dick Van Dike Slideshow

Add Photo

Nearing the belay on the upper section of Dick Van...
Cool crystalline intrusions.