Ripsnorter is a fun route on the far left of the main Thunderhead wall. It starts with a funky crack/roof feature, which marks the most difficult climbing, then trends up and right on a nice, slightly overhanging cream colored face. The headwall is tricky and has really fun climbing that is sustained to the very top. Good warm-up for the harder routes.
Great route which if you have dialed can turn into a really nice warm-up. If not dialed you could spend the rest of your day on it. Great climbing on decent pockets the whole way. The grade is questionable as we are now giving it an a grade but the locals know it so well that is what it is staring to feel like. Give yourself the b rating if it is at your limit and feel good about it. Know one will argue with you. A must!
I agree with the 12a rating. I think the way I originally did it by traversing in from the right was solid 12b. But the way everyone does it now, by using the big shelf to the left makes it considerably easier. I think it's a better route at 12a.