The Hand Cracks  5.7+

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Type:  Trad, 1 pitch, 20 feet Consensus:  5.7+ [details] FA:  Bradley White 1985 New Route:  Yes Submitted By:  bradley white on Jul 17, 2009 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 

Go to summit of Welch Mt. On the northeast side is long black slab with a ceiling slightly below the summit also known as the big east slab. Get to the ceiling by a scary traverse ledge above the 400ft+ mostly black slab, (driving south this slab is the first slab seen).
This traverse ledge goes to three distinct vertical hand cracks. Climb the cracks. If you fall off, fall forever. The crack furthest right or north is the hardest. I free soloed them and all 5.7+ soloed can mean 5.9. Perfect for locking into the cracks with hand jams. That's why I did all three instead of one.
The big black slab has seepage most of the year. I don't know the way to its base. Its in a hard to get to place.

Location 

Summit Welch Mt. and then down climb around to the ceiling above the northeast black slab. This wide low angle slab is the first slab seen going south from Waterville Valley. The cracks can be seen also.

Protection 

The cracks would take medium to large cams. I used no pro and had no rope.