Exit Stage Right  5.7

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Type:  Trad Consensus:  5.7 [details] FA:  Not sure. Submitted By:  Joe Keyser on Apr 3, 2002 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (5) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

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Closed: Private Property - Sphinx Rock is on private property MORE INFO >>> 6/3/06 -- Sphinx Rock (aka Elephant Rock) in Pinegrove, Colorado, is located on private property. Trespassing for any reason is illegal. Trespassing will now be enforced with the assistance of the local sheriff's office. Violators will be held accountable for towed vehicles, citations, and any legal actions. This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

Description 

This route is on the left half on Sphhinx rock. There is an obvious, big ramp heading up and to the right. This ramp has some good slab climbing. Pitch one is more of a scramble, and depending on the exact line you take, may not even have any 5th class moves. At any rate, follow the left part of the ramp up until you can move up and left just before the huge dome. Set a belay basically where the dome meets the ramp. It will be obvious from mid-ramp where you are going (a 25-30 foot left-facing dihedral capped with a roof).

Pitch two is the fun, although short part. Lie-back the hands/fists crack in the short left-facing corner for about 25-30 feet. At the top, you jump/slither into a sideways moving slot. I found it easiest to do this with a #1 cam in your hand, already attatched to the rope with a long sling. Place the cam, and slide leftwards for about 8-10 feet to the top. Set a belay and walk off easily to either side.

There is a wider 5.8 variation to pitch two that climbs a crack just left of the dihedral (Exit Stage Left). Although doing this variation avoids the fun belly-sliding moves. I gave it two stars since I thought it was just plain old fun. However, since it is fairly easy, and the good part is so short, it's best to make this a warm-up for the other good climbs in the area... Have fun!

Protection 

Standard rack, mostly hand size pieces, and a big cam for the last belay.