This route is two routes right of Flakes of Wrath. It goes up the thin, slabby right facing corner, out the roof, and up a sandy slab/crack. It felt harder than 5.9, since I got really pumped placing gear in the roof, but none of the moves are that hard, it's just sustained. Don't lower and try not to toprope since there are really deep rope grooves in the roof. One groove just above the lip is deep enough to place pro in.
Protection
Small cams and maybe a few stoppers for beginning and end, #.75 to #2 camalots for roof section, fixed anchor at top.
By Charles Dalgleish From: Salt Lake City, Utah Oct 27, 2002 rating: 5.8-
Love the climb. Makes for an interesting show for the road crowd while you go inverted, or worm your way through the lip of the roof.
Great climb that leaves you crying for more. Gets the blood flowing nicely for flakes of wrath next to it.
The route ain't harder than an eight. Unless you're a gym climber. It's easier than owl rock and sybernetics, both solid eights. Just remember, this is the dessert. The route has also changed a bit in the past 12 years too, since about 6 years ago someone pulled the flake on the left of the roof (where you could rest)but there's still a huge jug at the crux move, bring you're feet up right.
Please don't lower, the rock already has taken serious punishment. Save your rope and the rock and rappel.
Great route! Good place to start getting the arms workin'. You don't even have to lead it! DO belay from the top to respect the rock. Very nice short 5.9 section.
Dont let your rope suck up in the crack or rub excessively in the groves over the roof, be nice and rap the route.
The first few placements are adequate and the quality of gear placements increases leading up to the roof. This is quite the desert sandbag and woudl rate it 5.9 dues to it's sustained nature. Rap the route and I don't reccomend top roping due to the rock wear from the rope.
Fun and wild
Sandbag at 5.8
By Shane Zentner From: Colorado Feb 11, 2004 rating: 5.9+
Burly, very burly. Solid 5.9(several other people have made the same comment).
By utfreeclimber From: Sandy, UT Mar 21, 2006 rating: 5.9 PG13
I don't know about this one. It's definitely 5.9, maybe 5.8+, once you find the jugs to yard on but even after you pull the roof it's still kinda squirmy and slopey to the finish. One piece of advice... don't try climbing this thing using fist jams and offwidth technique or else this stupid little roof'll feel like a hard 5.11 crack, look for the jugs.
By mark chytka From: laramie wy Apr 20, 2006 rating: 5.8+
this route is awesome and if you climb it right it will feel like a solid 5.8 this climb has some awesome hidden features that make pulling the lip easy and fun. the lip is a little sandy and to the anchors is very sandy as well. Please don't toprope this route it tears up the rock. the grooves in the roof are horrific.
By Mark Michaels From: Midvale, UT Sep 28, 2006 rating: 5.9+
Crux is short but stout, in my opinion. Don't know about any secret holds that make this 5.8?? Fun climb, with a touch of sandy groveling to spice it up.
Tony, I appreciate your effort replacing the anchor, but I'm confused at your choice of location. Your new bolt does not equalize with any of the other anchors when rapping. Please explain.
Tough at 5.9 but i dont have much experience in the desert. Found one jug under the lip of the roof but it got a little desperate for me after that. Am i missing something or is this route a good representation of what desert 5.9 crack moves feel like?
Enjoyable climb. Made the mistake of lowering (belayer wasn't up for the climb).... Nightmare...
By Tony Metzger From: Colorado Apr 4, 2008 rating: 5.9+
This and Flakes of Wrath are by and far the best routes I've found on Potash. Talk about a blast of a route with great gear. It's not often a slug like myself get's to pull 6ft. roofs on trad gear(or any kind of gear for that matter!). I found a wicked solid kneebar just under the roof which conveniently blocked me from getting any good jams in the roof section. Had to hang on piece and reset. It went right away after I discombobulated myself. Tony