Snake 5.9
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| Type: | Trad, 5 pitches, Grade II |
| Consensus: | 5.9 [details] |
| FA: | R. Willmott and P. Botta, 1962 |
| Submitted By: | John Bradford on Nov 19, 2007 |
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Description This a really good route, and a nice option to avoid the crowds on Diedre, with only a few moves that are harder than climbing the latter. There are a couple of undercling traverses that are high in the grade.
Pitch 1: (5.7) Up the obvious corner off the ledge to a bolted anchor
Pitch 2: (5.9) Continue to move left, I followed a finger crack to the next belay, called "the stage"
Pitch 3 (5.9) Up the corner to next ledge.
Pitch 4 (5.9) This for me was the crux pitch. Up and to the right, traversing around a small tree and pulling the corner to the next bolted belay. The feet are thin!
and the hands not so good.
Pitch 5 (5.7) Continue up the corner, then across the face to a loose gully. Belay here, then scramble up to Memorial ledge
From memorial ledge, it is possible to walk off to the left, following small ledges and trees (Broadway) to better ground. A grade 3 option would be to climb Memorial Crack, then continue up the Squamish Buttress, finishing on top of the Chief.
Location Same approach as for Diedre, straight up from the parking lot, past the toilet, and go left where the trail splits. Watch for the small ramp above the trail, it is hard to see, but if you are looking for something you wouldn't normally see on an approach you won't miss it! Climb this (easy 5th) up and right to a dirt ledge. From here, if you go right, you will come to the base of Diedre. Go left and up some more easy 5th to the base of Snake.
Protection Standard rack, all of the belays are bolted. Gear up to 3 inches, though nothing really big is needed.
Pitch 2
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Pitch 3
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Pitch 4 traverse
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Pitch 4
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Pitch 5
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By Evan Stevens
Jun 26, 2008
| Snake is an old, old classic, not from Jeff, et al 2001! Jeff has contributed a ton to Squamish climbing, but this one was established by R. Willmott and P. Botta in 62 (as per the guidebook.) |
By Peter Spindloe
Administrator
From: North Vancouver, BC
Jun 30, 2008
| Thanks Evan, I updated it. |
By Matt Desenberg
From: Wells, Me
May 10, 2009
| Skip Diedre and do this instead. I don't remember the .9 sections being too difficult, and it's a way better route with half the crowds. |
By Mike Teschke
From: North Vancouver
Jun 8, 2009
| I climbed this on Saturday, we were the only party on the route all morning, there was a second group about half way up the route by the time we got back to the parking lot. Only a stones throw away on Diedre, there was multiple groups at each of the first couple belay stations... :(
Snake is a great route, and totally a better alternative to Diedre if you are up for a grade harder climb. |
By Andy Laakmann
Site Landlord
From: Bend, OR
Aug 7, 2009
rating: 5.9
| Great route - but expect lots of low-angle liebacking (big surprise for the Apron!)
P1 - Long pitch, 55m, up the corner and then out the dike to the bolted anchor. You can't really protect the dike traverse (you'd hit the slab below with all the rope stretch), but it isn't terribly hard if you find the right feet.
P2 - Traverse left. I did the lower slab option, and found it engaging considering your protection is 30' to your right. After finishing the traverse, you can protect your second by climbing up and then right and placing a #2 camalot.
P3 - Crux pitch IMO. The final moves to the anchor are thin and high in the grade. A small nut and blue mastercam protected this move fine though.
P4 - Guess what, more liebacking! You even get a bolt on the way. The traverse right to the anchor didn't seem cruxy to me. Plenty of gear options on the traverse.
P5 - Guess what, more liebacking... only easier :)
I brought a double rack of small cams (green C3) to #3 camalot and nuts (including small) and it worked perfectly. I found the climbing to be engaging for the grade. |
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