By ferrells Oct 25, 2007 rating: 5.12d
| This is a great route. In my mind, it is split into three sections. The first is getting to the undercling, which for me requires a dyno for the first move, a couple of careful smears, and a long move into a tensiony span. The second moves from the undercling through a couple of small crimps, and up to the crux hold, a sloping crimp thing. This hold used to be a giant flat edge, but was broken a couple of years ago (I know who did it, and I heard last year that he still thinks about gluing it back on). For me, moving through that hold (and making that clip) is the crux of the route. Once established on the great crimp to the right of the broken hold, you work your way up through a nice little pocket (one or two fingers, depending) and a couple of edges. Dr. Hirsch says you have to dyno, but I just edge my way up with my right hand, getting my feet high, and reach to the jug. The final bit is a great finish on surprisingly solid holds (except for a small dirty section). The end doesn't compare to the difficulty of the beginning, but you still have to think your way through it, and there are a couple of great moves up there. I never climbed the route before the hold broke, but right now, it climbs great. I hope that hold never gets glued back on. My favorite 12d at Red Wing. |