This felt harder than 5.11a to me. I found it harder than ABM(5.11a/b), Thouroughfare (5.11a) and Beginner's Demise (5.11a).
By Tony Bubb From: Boulder, CO Oct 18, 2006 rating: 5.11a
The comments above are funny because when I saw the 11a designation I chucked about how my partner, a local, sandbagged me into this and Flatus few other climbs "they are only 10a!" he insisted... I bought it for a while that I was just not dialed in to the local rock and was spooked by the lack of friction. But after he got me to do Flatus 3D (Flatus Triple Direct) saying it was only 10b then finally Cesarean Direct at "10c", (I finished only after a hang with bloody fingers) I seized the book and noted that the scale ended at "F10c." So much for that. I understand that those are 12's now? Regardless of the read grade, Black Rib is of the nicest thin climbs at Devil's Lake and one of the few I remember by name a decade and a half later. Take your edging shoes and get ready to crimp!
By Jay Knower Administrator Mar 2, 2007 rating: 5.11b
Yeah Tony, Bagatelle, formerly F10c is now 5.12c/d. Talk about grade inflation...
As for Black Rib, it's a 5.11 with a 12a move on it, in classic Devil's Lake tradition.