Home - Destinations - People - Partners - Forum - Photos - What's New
 ADVANCED
The Bridger Jacks
Show routes:
Select route...
Aging Salesman 
East Face (Sunflower Tower) 
Egg Drop Soup 
Hoop Dancer 
Learning to Crawl 
Powders of Persuasion 
Rim Shot 
Sacred Space 
Sparkling Touch 
Thunderbolts (Easter Island) 
Vision Quest 
Wild Flower 

Learning to Crawl 

5.11

   

FA: Jeff Achey, Ed Webster
Type: Trad, Sport
Consensus: 5.11b/c [details]
Length: 1 pitch, 165 feet
Views: 1,026 page views

Submitted By: Mike Sofranko on Nov 4, 2001


Add Photo  Add Comment 

You and this route  |  Other Opinions (5)
Your todo list:
Your stars:
Your rating: -none- [change]
Your ticklist: [add new tick]
 Printer Friendly View

BETA PHOTO

Description 

Face climbing in the desert! Watch out!

This is the leftmost detached tower in the Bridger Jack group. Kind of looks like a thumb, has a twin called Sparkling Touch just to the right. The trail along the bottom of Bridger Jack is obvious - go all the way left. The route starts in the obvious wide crack that leads to the left arete of Thumbelina. We belayed below the third class leading to this wide crack, but whatever works best for you. If you have a 50M rope, you probably want to get right up to the crack to belay.

The route is very obvious - follow the arete and bolts to the summit. The initial wide crack goes at 5.6ish, but the face to the right is climbable as well. As the leader I felt more secure wedged in the crack. The route has many rests and several bouldery cruxes. Two cruxes in particular will probably get your attention. The lower crux (10+/11-) was slightly burly but had positive holds and a nice new bolt just below. The upper crux is the business. Most people describe it as quite desperate. Personally, I describe it as A0, but my partner got it without a slip. This crux is at the last two bolts - one of which is bomber. Once past this, head left then up right to the final mantle onto the summit, or step right to the obvious steep crack and follow that to the summit mantle. If taking the steep crack, maybe include an extra hand sized piece or two in the rack.

Soft and precise shoes will undoubtedly help the struggle. Good luck.


Protection 

1 each cams blue TCU to #3 Camalot, 1 set nuts, 8 2 foot runners, 8 QDs


Descent 

Double rope rap off summit.



Add Photo Photos of Learning to Crawl
Looking up from the base.

Looking up from the base.

Ian McAlexander on the crux.

Ian McAlexander on the crux.

Ian on top of Thumbelina with the tops of the other 5 Bridger Jack spires in the background.

Ian on top of Thumbelina with the tops of the othe...

Todd Gordon on Thumbelina.

Todd Gordon on Thumbelina.

Pete Takeda on Learning to Crawl.<br />Photo by Todd Gordon.

Pete Takeda on Learning to Crawl.
Photo by Todd Go...


Todd Gordon near the top.<br />Photo: Todd Gordon collection.

Todd Gordon near the top.
Photo: Todd Gordon colle...


"Learning to Crawl" is an album by The Pretenders.

"Learning to Crawl" is an album by The Pretenders.

Todd Gordon and Pete Tekada on Thumbelina.  Photo;  Todd Gordon collection.

Todd Gordon and Pete Tekada on Thumbelina. Photo@...


Add Comment Comments on Learning to Crawl
Show which comments
By Joe Collins
Jul 29, 2002

The crux of the route is fairly desperate and the hangers on the two bolts inspire little confidence. Clipping the second bolt at the crux section is extremely balancey. I thought it was a pretty tough call whether to clip in the rope or to actually grab the draw. Stick in there because the climbing eases off pretty quickly.

Double rope rap but stand well back from the tower for the pull as the crack at the top of the formation is a definite rope snagger.

By Stan Pitcher
From: SLC, UT
Nov 7, 2002

If you do the 5.9 handcrack finish (which is great), be careful using the flake just before it - its quite loose. Bring your slabbing shoes!

By Scotty Nelson
From: San Diego
May 1, 2006

Would recommend #00 (grey) TCU.

By Brad Brandewie
Jan 6, 2007

If you're willing to pull on a bolt at the crux, I think this is the easiest of the BJ Spires.

More photos and a TR at http://www.piquaclimber.com/past/bridgerjacks/thumbelina-sun>>>>>

By John Dubrawski
From: Santa Monica, CA
Apr 4, 2007
rating: 5.11

Goes free, quite well. Exciting move though.