Fine Jade 5.11a
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| Type: | Trad, 5 pitches, Grade III |
| Consensus: | 5.11- [details] |
| FA: | Chip Chace & Pat Ellingwood, 1984 |
| Submitted By: | Ben Folsom on Oct 25, 2001 |
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Ham or cheese? 5.7 traverse is fun. If you belay...
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Description This is a classic desert line to the top of the rectory. Some great varied crack climbing. This is a must do desert climb. To reach, hike up the trail to the base of Castleton and then traverse North on the ridge for a couple hundred yards to reach the base of the rectory. The route climbs the crack system on the Southern prow of the rectory facing Castleton Tower. P1- Climb a fist crack past a pod and make a difficult thin hands move right. Climb up to a ledge with anchors, pass them and continue thin hands to fingers to a ledge with bolts and belay. (5.10+) P2- Continue up the crack to a finger crack through a bulge. Past the bulge climb a hand crack past a small roof to a belay stance. (5.11a) P3- Make some lieback moves, then pass a short rotten section to a roof. Continue up the crack to a big ledge and belay or continue up the 5.11 bolted face to the top. If climbing the original route, traverse directly left from the big ledge below the top for 25-30 feet or so and top out a steep crack in a corner. Descent- 3 double rope rappels down the route.
Protection 2-3 sets of cams to #3 Camalot. A set of stoppers.
BETA PHOTO: Taken 6/5/05
| Looking up route from the base
| BETA PHOTO
| Route follows Crack up South Face
| Route Photo with Text
| David nears the top of the first pitch.
| David pauses to scope out the upcoming crux on pit...
| Pitch 1 OW
| You better hope these guys flying the lawn mower e...
| Rich on Fine Jade. This is the short section of l...
| Rich approaching the crux finger crack bulge.
| Rich on the first pitch of Fine Jade. This sectio...
| Eric and Bart on Fine Jade as seen from the summit...
| Eric on the bolted last pitch of Fine Jade.
| BETA PHOTO: 3 climbers on Fine Jade...can you spot them?
| Bobby on 3rd pitch of Fine Jade
| hanging at a belay
| Duke, Liz, and CT approaching Fine Jade.
| Duke leading the 5.11 variation for the last pitch...
| Past the OW, P1.
| Scott set up this intermediate belay on the last p...
| Unknown climbers, March '08
| The last pitch...sweet.
| approach
| starting the last pitch.
| Pitch 1
| Getting to the OW part on pitch 1
| The steep OW part on pitch 1
| Getting past the OW
| Pleasant crack climbing above th OW on Pitch 1
| Belayer atop pitch 1; climber following ...
| Looking up Pitch 1
| Yet another Fine Jade photo.
| P1 Panoramic
| Top of the tower. Very windy day, lost the green r...
| November Sunset on Fine Jade
| Final Bolted Pitch
| Just past the steep crux on pitch 1
| KC taking soaking up the view on Fine Jade. Circa ...
| Zach on the first pitch.
| BETA PHOTO: 6 Fine Jade
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By Anonymous Coward Nov 1, 2001
| It should be stated that on your first time up this route, you should definitely do the original finish. It can easily be dismissed due to the "5.7" grade but it is FAR more adventuresome and, I would argue, higher quality than the bolted finish. Description: belay from the base of the bolt ladder. Hand traverse the ledge with no feet and lots of exposure straight left and belay just around the corner. A #4 Camalot helps protect the traverse for the 2nd. The final pitch heads up the obvious feature around the corner. I won't give the beta for the finish, but it isn't as weird as many of the guidebook route descriptions make it out to be. |
By Aaron Shupp Feb 5, 2002
| I also like the old finish.I was able to do the hand traverse and the corner to the top in one pitch. If you don't place much pro on the traverse (there isn't much to speak of anyway), the rope drag isn't bad at all. So, three pitches including the historical finish are possible with a 60m rope. |
By Frank Stock Apr 8, 2002
| In the for what its worth catagory: With 2 - 200 foot ropes, you can get down in two raps. The first rap takes you to the nice belay just below the crux with 5 feet to spare, and the second rap puts you on the ground with perhaps 40 feet to spare. I wish I had paid more attention to the midpoint going up, because I think you probably could get off the top with 1 200 footer, but I wouldn't want to bet my life on it. Very nice stuff, fun summit. Agree with all of the above, the traverse pitches are a kick. Cheers, Frank |
By M.Morley Administrator From: Sacramento, CA Mar 30, 2003
| First off, frickin' incredible! Hats off to Chip and Pat for spotting this beauty! An elegant line combined with exposed, varied climbing. Every pitch is a winner. Don't bother hauling up a #4 Camalot to protect the 4th (traverse pitch), as it isn't necessary. The only #4 placement I made on the entire route was about 20' up on the first pitch, but there is good gear directly above and below. My gear recommendation: doubles from blue TCUs to #3 Camalots, with an extra red (#1) and gold (#2) Camalot. Enjoy! |
By Anonymous Coward Mar 31, 2003
| Most, if not all, 5.11a desert leaders will want the #4 Camalot for the pod on the first pitch. Most people will find this section to be the crux of the climb. |
By Charles Vernon From: Tucson, AZ Sep 16, 2003
| Here's another vote for bringing the #4 on P1. Put it this way: you don't need it for safety, but if the climbing is at your limit, it may give you the peace of mind to make the difference between sending and hanging. Plus, it frees up the good hand jams, where you would otherwise have to place pro after the wide stuff. The bolt is not only old and scary, but is next to a good #2 Camalot placement rather than the wide section. |
By Jakester Nov 24, 2003
| The #4 could go either way--if you place it on the first pitch, you can then clip it to an anchor above and grab it on the way down. The climb can be done in three pitches: from the ground to just below the "crux" 5.11 fingers, then to just below the bolts, then the top. Amazing route, tough and pumpy from the get-go. |
By Max Schon May 13, 2004
| First of all, the bolted line at the end of Fine Jade is actually the proper finish to Coyote Calling. Second, that section is not .11a, more like .10, the 5.7 finish is WAY more fun. Third, a #4 Cam on the first pitch!? Fine Jade is one of the few towers you don't need such a big piece. |
By Aimee Rose From: Bend, or Mar 23, 2006
| Wow, more like 5.10, for the bolted finish? Were we on the same route? I regularly climb 5.12 sport and I couldn't make the moves on the 5.11 final pitch. I took a whipper on the first bolt (coming close to the ledge) and then not wanting to hit the ledge, actually put my fingers through the second bolt- scary, but effective. You must be about 6 foot tall for that pitch to feel easy! In retrospect, I wish we would have done the traverse finish. |
By Mike From: Phoenix Oct 17, 2006 rating: 5.11a
| What a wonderful route. IMHO the pod low on the 1st pitch was harder than the "crux" second pitch finger crack. I actually thought it was harder to follow the 1st than it was to lead the second. As for the last pitch, I thoroughly enjoyed the classic finish. |
By Luke Malatesta From: Moab Utah Aug 15, 2007
| Just did this route on Aug 12.....Amazing...nobody around, super quality and sustained for the most part. |
By James Tucker Apr 29, 2008 rating: 5.11a
| We just climbed Fine Jade yesterday. I agree with Mike's comment about the first pitch being harder than the technical crux in some ways. The individual moves are probably easier, but it's a little awkward and it's right off the ground. Maybe I just wasn't warmed up yet. I also found the last pitch to be honest 5.11 sport, but in a tricky way, not a pumpy way. I'm tall and found it a little reachy, but my partner found a totally different way to do it so maybe I just didn't look hard enough. I'll try the original finish next time. Don't forget to bring enough small stuff. I would bring two or three of both blue and yellow TCU-sized cams for the thin crack parts. Also, don't worry about starting up the route with another party above you, as there is an entire second set of rap stations that will allow parties to pass one another easily. I recommend two 60s as the pitches are all longer than 100 feet. All the anchors on the route are fantastic, as is the rock quality. Hands down one of the best desert free routes I've done to date, and one I suspect I will return to do many times. |
By Charles Vernon From: Tucson, AZ Aug 24, 2008
| Dean, I rapped this route with a 60 meter one time. One rap (I can't recall which as it was several years ago) took all the rope, but with a 70 you'll be able to do it comfortably. |
By Monty From: Morrison, Co Dec 2, 2008
| 70m works fine, dont take a #4 camolot, take only one #3, four #.4's, three of everything from #.5 - #2, and one blue tcu. great route every pitch is stellar and definately do the face finish. |
By Matt Toensing From: Boulder Oct 12, 2009 rating: 5.11-
| We didn't bring a nut tool with us yesterday on fine jade and got a hex stuck on the first pitch and a cam stuck on the second pitch. Sorry kind of lame but it happens. If anyone happens to retrieve those pieces I am willing to pay for shipping. I talked to some of you out there who were going up there today so hopefully you guys got those pieces. Thanks a lot everyone, Matt |
By Spencer Weiler From: SLC, UT Jul 14, 2010
| Best aesthetics of any desert route in the area. Being that I suck at crack, the 11a sport finish felt like a breeze compared to the 2nd pitch finger crack. There isn't any feet! At least 4 .5 camalots for that pitch, and possibly that many .4's as well. It felt like that was all I placed on that pitch. The 2nd two roofs on pitch 2 are much easier(and therefore felt more fun) then the first. |
By Terence From: Almont, CO Oct 18, 2010
| Amazing is all I have to say. We hauled gear and camped on top. Sunrise was gorgeous. A must do for the grade. |
By tsuji From: Boulder, CO Nov 24, 2010
| My partner and I got our ropes stuck coming off in some crazy winds. $100 reward for their return, we will pay shipping to boulder!!! |
By Tommey-James From: Boulder,Colorado Nov 24, 2010 rating: 5.11b
| Hey so I dont know how one could possibly say that any move on pitch one is more diffcult then the so called finger crack on pitch 2. The crack on pitch 2 is .5 size and is ring locks for me, I didnt find a solid finger lock (.4) anywhere on the buldge crux on the second pitch. Overall great route, well worth doing if you are in the area. |
By Ryan Williams Administrator From: London (sort of) Jan 6, 2011 rating: 5.11-
| @ Tommy: I could be wrong but I thought .5 was perfect fingers for most people? I like .4's better but if .5's are ring locks for you then you have TINY fingers. I remember placing two .4's and getting solid locks, as well as a few .5 sections. That was the first finger crack I've ever lead and my first desert lead as well. We don't have many cracks like that here. My partner stopped at the first belay on P1 so I lead the hands/fingers part of P1 AND all of P2. Still easier than the OW move to the right on P1. Excellent climb. |
By Kurt Prond From: Bozeman, MT Feb 23, 2012
| No, I think BD .4s are typically good finger locks, .5s are rattly fingers. Depends on the size of your fingers. I also thought pitch 1 was just as hard(more sustained) than the finger crack. We did this route an a very windy day in 2010. Made rappelling tough. At one point, we coiled our ropes and tossed them, and they blew straight up! |
By JayJ Feb 24, 2012
| Great climb! OW, thin, and face cruxes. |
By Kbird From: Lakewood, CO Oct 23, 2012
| Just my opinion, but I would highly advise NOT doing a double rap from the very top (down to the 2nd pitch anchors, if I remember correctly.) I've gotten my ropes stuck doing this rap 2 different times now. If I were to do it again I'd do a single rap down to the 3rd pitch anchors---where you belay for the 'sport pitch' going to the top---and then go from there. Kind of annoying since it's a short rap, but it might save you a lot of time and energy from having to climb back up to untangle your ropes! |
By Jeff Scheuerell Mar 20, 2013
| Great route! This is what I wish I had brought (1)0C3,(2)1C3,(2)2C3,(3).4,(2).5,(3).75,(2)1,(2)2, (1)70m rope I did not place a single 3 or 4. Most descriptions lead one to believe that you will be fist jamming and doing OW moves. I did neither. I remember tight hands to perfect hands, reach past the wide, back to tight hands. Great .4 finger locks through the crux but the feet suck. I did the bolted finish. I found it thought provoking but very doable, but not easy. |
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