The Benefactor  5.12b

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Type:  Sport, 55 feet Consensus:  5.12b [details] FA:  Bret and Stuart Ruckman, 1990 Submitted By:  John Steiger on Sep 4, 2011 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (1) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

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Description 

Classic name, great line, quality climbing (so what if it’s short). The Benefactor takes an attractive, brown patina-looking swath up the center of the Garden. More pumpy than technical or powerful, this route might be considered a soft 12b by some, but I’ll stick with the rating given by the first ascensionists. Lowering off the anchors leaves the climber a good 15 feet out from the base of the route. This may be the best 12b in BCC, with the possible exception of Savage Dance (I haven’t been on it, but Savage Dance gets 3 out of 3 stars in the Ruckmans' guide).

Location 

Between Mellow Gold to the left and Up in Arms to the right. Look for two bolts leading to an undercling flake, with the patina-like section above.

Protection 

Draws. Descent is from fixed ‘biners on slings tied around a tree (a good candidate for new bolts and chains).