The Hitchhiker 5.11c
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| Type: | Sport, 1 pitch, 125 feet |
| Consensus: | 5.11c [details] |
| FA: | Darren Knezek |
| Submitted By: | Perin Blanchard on May 12, 2012 |
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Description A long, long route by Maple standards, this line will leave you exhausted and feeling like you just ascended three pitches with several cruxes.
Begin by using big, positive holds past the first bolt to a ledge. A tricky, strenuous crux awaits up a vertical section to another "ledgy" bit and a good rest.
Another cruxy section to another rest. Another cruxy section. Another rest. Repeat.
The total bolt count on this route is 25 plus anchors, although several of the bolts can be profitably skipped (the route was equipped ground up by Jason Stevens, presumably using a Willy Stick which accounts for the closely-spaced bolts).
You may also want to reach down and unclip some of the bolts once you get a higher bolt clipped because, near the top, you're pulling up a lot of rope and the less drag the better.
Note that the route is longer than half a 60m rope. A new, 70m rope barely reached (there was about 2 feet of rope left on the belayer's side when the climber was on the ground). There is a midpoint chain anchor to accommodate shorter ropes.
Location When you emerge from the short trail from the road you are directly in front of the black water streak. This line is the first route to the right of the water streak.
Protection 25 bolts, chain anchors. Two of the bolts can be easily skipped (bolts two and seven—although don't fall skipping bolt two before clipping bolt three). You may choose to skip others higher up.
There is also a chain anchor midway up the route that can be used to lower off the rope with a single 60m rope.
| Comments on The Hitchhiker |
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By KipHenrie
From: centerville, utah
May 12, 2012
rating: 5.11c/d
| OK. So heres the deal. I thot I was a pretty good 11c climber, but wait this is 3x longer than most the climbs I get on. It wasted me on my Flash attempt. You have to change your mindset on this one. Break it up and dont hurry yourself. If you see a rest, big or small, take it. And frankly just enjoy it little by little. I think it took me around 40 minutes with the rests I took. With a little patience, and a steady belayer you will send with a big smile on your face.
Thanks Jason and DK for your vision on this route. Just a super classic. |
By Cowboy Roy
From: SLC, UT
Jul 7, 2012
| I agree with the first comment. I decided to try this to save some energy on semi rest day, this things is crux after crux and trying to gun through it is burly. compared to other routes in maple of this grade, hitchhiker is way harder, maybe i have no endurance though. |
By the schmuck
From: Albuquerque, NM
Jul 13, 2012
rating: 5.11c
| Good route, but beware...A 70 meter rope does NOT reach the ground. A group of Canadians in front of us tried lowering with a 70, and the rope did not reach (about 15 feet short). Trusting MP, I thought that they had a short 70. I tried lowering with my 70, and was about 15 feet short, and had to yard back up to the mids (a pain in the ass). I was later told that the Hitchiker is 38m long, not 35m. Just be prepared to lower from the mids unless you have 80m. |
By bheller
From: SL UT
Jul 13, 2012
rating: 5.11c
| I climbed this route on 7/9/12 and my 70 meter rope perfectly lowered me to reach the ground, and this was still with the other end of the rope still clipped in an running up through all the draws. Fun route, glad I climbed it. |
By the schmuck
From: Albuquerque, NM
Jul 23, 2012
rating: 5.11c
| Not sure what to say. Either the Canadians, us, and the party that we spoke to afterwards all have short 70s, or you have a long 70. I even unclipped the draws on the lower, and still did not reach. |
By John Ross
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Jul 27, 2012
| Here is Perin's 70m rope hanging from the chains on The Hitchhiker. Perhaps all 70m ropes are not equal, but this rope was perfect for doing the route in one pitch.
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