Ryan Jaret casually jamming the splitter handcrack...
Description
This is one of the few moderate routes at Upper Blair, and is an excellent warm-up for the harder stuff in the area. Located on the SE face of Little John Tower, this pitch follows right-facing flake features to the obvious handcrack near the top.
The first flake can be reached from directly below, or more easily by following a dike in from the right. After the second flake, a weird traverse left gains the beautiful handcrack. There are excellent views of the Five Corners formation from the summit. Descend by scrambling down gullies on the north side of the formation.
Recommended. The splitter crack at the top is deeeeelishus. Extra long runners at the flake (right before you travese left to the splitter crack) will help keep your rope drag manageable.
The upper handcrack is one of the cleanest moderate handcracks I've found at Vedauwoo and not to be missed. The climbing up to the base of the handcrack is a little funky. Bring gear up to a #3 camalot and maybe a few extra hand size pieces.
I agree with Squatting Bear. I did it in one pitch, but the funky climb at the bottom seems like an entirely separate thing than the lovely splitter at the top. There is a great belay ledge at the bottom of the splitter that would make it a logical, if non-traditional, way to do the climb.
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