Wild, Wild Life

Scramble as high as possible, around the left side of a lower cliff, to the base of a scruffy right-facing corner that leads up to a prominent right-leaning arch.

1. Up the right-facing corner to a stance below the arch. A bit loose, but not too bad. 5.7, 100'

2. Follow the arch right to an airy stance at the base of the big blank corner. Well protected. 5.8-5.9, 50'

3. The big blank right-facing corner leads up to a headwall; escape up left to a decent ledge. Adequate but tricky small gear. 5.10a, 80'

4. Follow an obvious offwidth straight up, then continue up very loose rock to a stance below the headwall. This pitch is very dangerous due to the rock quality. 5.9, 150'

5. A stair-stepped dike creates a chimney-corner system through the headwall to the top. Adequate (not great) gear. 5.6, 100'

To descend, head north along the rim to the second gully system, which is fairly wide and obvious at the top. Downclimb this, with a couple of rappels. (This gully is probably Wexler's "Center Chimney" route.)

This route has some really good climbing, but it's hard to recommend due to the very loose rock on the fourth pitch. Wexler's article in Appalachia has good photos of the wall.

The biggest cliff in the Northwest Basin has sometimes been referred to as "El Capitan" or "the Twins." It's on the east wall of the basin, facing southwest, about a mile north of Davis Pond. This route climbs a blank-looking corner, just right of center.

Full trad rack to 4-5", plus pins. Extra cord or webbing for rap anchors.