Looking down the first pitch of Mark of the Beast ...
Description
Mark of the Beast is probably the longest, vertical, non-contrived route in the park. The route is a well-protected three-pitch slab route that climbs the right side of the Devil�s Slide. The first pitch is also known as Christine�s Variation and is a great 5.6 climb just by itself.
P1. Start at the base of a long, clean slab just left of the prominent overlap that marks the left side of the Cheap Wine Wall. Climb past seven bolts to a pair of top anchors in a shallow dish just right of the Fatman Flake. While there are a couple sections where the wall is a little steeper, there is no real crux. Fun, 5.6 climbing to the anchors.
P2. Climb up and left from the P1 anchors past the Fatman Flake. The crux is a steep smooth headwall that leads to the first bolt (5.8/5.9 range). Once past the first bolt, the angle and the climbing both ease significantly. Climb past two more bolts to a two-bolt belay on the Broadway Ledge. Short pitch.
P3. Another short pitch. Climb an easy slab up and right from the P2 anchors to a two-bolt rap station.
From the rap anchors on top of P3, rap with two ropes back to the P1 anchors near the Fatman Flake. A second two rope rappel gets you back to the ground. You could also scramble up a low angle slab and walk off the top of the dome.
Protection
Seven quick draws and something for the two-bolt anchors at the top of each pitch. Two ropes required to rap off.
I agree, .9- is about right for that second pitch. I did this as a second around the time I first started climbing and had a hard time. I could likely go back and ace it on lead now. I never saw the bolt line for the third pitch though, so we rapped down from there.
Devil's Slide
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