West Face 

If you pull on gear on the last pitch, nothing is harder than 5.9 The 5.7 sand chimney is the crux of the route, but you can shove a 3 and/or a 3.5 camalot in where it pinches down.

Best to pull the knot past the first few bulges when you rap. We didn't, and had a hard time pulling the ropes.

Having attempted this route in the later 90's and wimping out on the second pitch pitons and lack there of(I think I used upcoming darkness as my excuse then.) I was pleasantly surprised to see the new bolts. It changes the nature of the route a bit. For good or bad, I would consider this to now be one of the easier "known" towers in the desert. It can easily be aided at c1. On the first pitch, if you don't want to grovel, you can avoid the chimney by climbing on the right side of the flake. During the second pitch, there are two easy, but awkward, aid placements to reach the two pitons. Above is a very easy bolt ladder. The last thirty feet are very runout, but the climbing is probably in the 5.4 range. Enjoy the hike. The whole thing is a lot of fun.

I climbed this route this last spring. On the first pitch I climbed the left side, but not in the crack at first I climbed on the out side of the flake on really soft rock(not recommended). Also we only had one 60 meter rope that weekend and were fine rapping off of Dark Angel and the west face of Argon.

I took out two relics out of the top-anchor and replaced them with one half-inch rawl (one bolt took two light taps, the other a whack and then two taps)... equalized the various with desert matching rope (brown chain would be better). I put a picture up of the previous anchor material. There was so much tape through the various points that I couln't clip directly into the bolts.
Gang, we now, as of a certain event in early May, have an access issue in Arches and Canyonlands. The bright colored cordage is a definite no-no. I put a picture of what I took out on this page but couldn't take one of what I left cus it was too dark. Anyway, we need to make an effort, each of us, to use desert colored stuff if we are backing things up. Just buy the brown stuff... and carry a lot of it so you can replace, rather than just add, if you feel its necessary.

The second pitch felt like 11a to me - short crux but hard to read.
On the hike out we were stopped by a ranger and asked to produce our chalkbags! Turns out that colored chalk is mandatory - not just encouraged. We narrowly avoided being ticketed. The ranger reasoned that it would be bad if the Arches ended up looking like Potash Road - he has a point. Next time Ill leave the chalk bag in the car.

When I did this climb (with Lori Graf ) in Oct. of 1983, I found one of the bolts on the bolt ladder MISSING. I slammed a baby angle in the hole, tied it off, and proceded with the climb. We got our ropes stuck on the rappel, and I had to run back to the car to get jumars, run back, and ascend the rope and extend the anchor and un-stuck our rope. The first pitch seemed a bit sandy, and the run-out 5.4 seems uneventful. The climbing isn't too impressive, but the formation, summit, and whole experience is top notch! What a fantasic setting too;.....***** beauty all around! And a Bob Camps (Calif.) route to boot! (Rest in Peace, Bob....the climbing communtiy misses you dearly......)

Todd Wrote:

"We got our ropes stuck on the rappel, and I had to run back to the car to get jumars, run back, and ascend the rope and extend the anchor and un-stuck our rope."

That's funny the same thing happened to me. The rope actually got bound up in the wear marks in the rock. Good thing the hike is nice.

A great hike, great views and a fun route. We chilled on the summit for some time taking in the views and the sunshine. the anchor has been lengthened so it's easy to pull. I can see it being epic if it weren't extended. bring webbing just incase. the rope that's up there won't last but maybe another year. i yarded on the bolts, but doesn't look to bad to free. it gets afternoon light, may be better to wait till then to free in winter. cold in the shade. 1 60m rope gets you to the ground. we carried a tag, but don't need it. classic work on the FA.

Did this one today at 5.9 C0. A pretty tame little tower except for the slightly unnerving (yet easy) 30 foot runout from the last bolt to the top. The approach was about an hour. There are 7 bolts on the second pitch bolt ladder. A half set of nuts (medium to large sizes only) and a set of Camalots from silver (.4?) to #4 would be perfect. A bunch of draws, too. The slings on the anchors on top are still in OK condition. A single 60 meter rope doubled over will barely/perfectly get you back down to the ground. Two ropes not needed.

Looks like a pretty good free line. The run out sections are easy (but a little sandy). The quicklinks at the top are as minimalist as I would ever want to get. Would be nice to beef those up some.
Overall just a quick fun line with no fears and good gear.

Loved the route. Super fun outing. Did this and owl rock in one day.

here is what i would do differently...

P1 - Climber and belayer - Scramble up the base of the first slab to the beginning of the face with no pro. Use your belayer to spot while you climb a 5.8 protectionless face with less than awesome rock quality. Backup the anchor with #2 Cam

P2 - After climbing the 3rd bolt, lower to the beginning of the bolt ladder and try to free (first two bolts are drilled angles... after that, all the bolts are new and burly)
The "run out" to the top, is not run out... there are spots for occassional pro in horizontal seams (small cams)

Rap to the ground with one single 70 meter rope

Rack
Singles, #.3 -> #4 & Medium nuts.
10 runners or quick draws to the bolt ladder.

Bring a titanium rap rings to replace existing rap rings.
Bring new cord to replace old cord at rap anchors.

I added a couple of painted quick-links in october. They are hand tight, I forgot a wrench

P2 starting mantel is a very awkward 5.7. After that, the bolts are easy to french free on. No need for any special aid gear. After the first 2-3 bolts, the climbing eases up quickly and can be climbed at low 5th with one more well protected 5.9-5.10a crux near the end.

for the second pitch there's a key sidepull way out left. fun climbing and a incredible approach. climb this tower