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Old People's Dome

S Dakota > Custer SP > Sylvan Lake > Outlets

Description

I'm suggesting Old People's Dome be added because it has three of the most enjoyable and moderate long routes in the Outlet area (Creeping Senility, 5.6R; Aging Gracefully, 5.7 and Gericrawl, 5.9). All three are generally well bolted, but also provide an opportunity to use one or two pieces of clean pro. In fact, clean pro is necessary to protect the crux on Gericrawl. The start for all 3 climbs is always in the shade but note, the first bolt for each climb is 15-20 feet off of the ground. All three climbs also go to the same intermediate bolt/chain anchor below the true summit. Very exposed, but easy scramble will get you to the true summit where a new bolt/black webbing anchor is located. Two ropes are required for rapping from either anchor system.

Getting There

After passing through the tunnel a few feet west of the north end of Sylvan Lake, take a sharp left and follow narrow track to a private road and residence. Just before reaching the residence, take the trail to your right and continue to descend this trail past Outer Outlet. After passing Outer Outlet descend and angle to the northeast towards a shaded and some what hidden by vegetation domed spire. You'll see two small birch trees at its base. The three climbs are all within a few feet of one another on the shaded wall behind the two trees. Creeping Senility is just left of the tree on the left and Aging Gracefully is along side of the tree on the right. Gericrawl is just down slope a few more feet from Aging Gracefully above the large fallen tree trunk.

Routes from Left to Right

5.3 3+ 10 III 9 VD 3a
 5
Conn Route
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b R
 51
Creeping Senility
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 42
Aging Gracefully
Trad, Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 26
Gericrawl
Trad, Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 15
Barber Dihedral
Trad
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 2
Grandmas Hands
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 1
Sponge Bath
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Conn Route
 5
5.3 3+ 10 III 9 VD 3a Trad
Creeping Senility
 51
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b R Sport
Aging Gracefully
 42
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, Sport
Gericrawl
 26
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, Sport
Barber Dihedral
 15
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Grandmas Hands
 2
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad
Sponge Bath
 1
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Dave Meyer, closing in on his 81st birthday, nearing the intermediate belay on Creeping Senility. (Photo by Anne Meyer)
[Hide Photo] Dave Meyer, closing in on his 81st birthday, nearing the intermediate belay on Creeping Senility. (Photo by Anne Meyer)
Tossing rope for rap from new summit anchor system
[Hide Photo] Tossing rope for rap from new summit anchor system
Climbers atop Old Man's Dome.
[Hide Photo] Climbers atop Old Man's Dome.
4 climbers atop Old P{eople's Dome
[Hide Photo] 4 climbers atop Old P{eople's Dome
Climbers on Old People's Dome
[Hide Photo] Climbers on Old People's Dome
The two small birch trees at the base of Old People's Dome.
[Hide Photo] The two small birch trees at the base of Old People's Dome.
what are these guys on?  last week wednesday
[Hide Photo] what are these guys on? last week wednesday
Paul Huebner belaying Anne Meyer up to intermediate anchor system for both Creeping Senility & Aging Gracefully.
[Hide Photo] Paul Huebner belaying Anne Meyer up to intermediate anchor system for both Creeping Senility & Aging Gracefully.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Tyson Arp
Omaha, NE
[Hide Comment] It is possible to continue on to the true summit of this rock--a very large, rather flat summit with a great view (imagine that in the black hills!). This last little pitch is low fifth class. There is another rap anchor on the true summit which looks fairly new--but when I was up there this last weekend, I thought the bolts looked kinda funky (not tightened properly and wobbly in their holes) so I opted to downclimb back to the lower anchor and rap from there. Jul 11, 2003
James Parker
Rochester Hills MI
[Hide Comment] I climbed this with my wife Karyn Kozo and HJ Schmidt on July 4 -- we rapped off the top bolts (2 ropes). Think they must have been okay or H would not have used them. I rapped first, and thought about the anchors on the airy way down GeriCrawl.

Nice climb BTW -- only the second Karyn and I have done other than practice top roped climbs. Jul 7, 2006
[Hide Comment] Several years ago we climbed a trad line between Creeping Senility and Aging Gracefully. There was a moderate amount of gear on it and probably went around 5.9. ANy name to this?

Kevin Jul 15, 2006
Paul Huebner
Portage, WI
[Hide Comment] Lenore Sobota and I rapped off of the summit anchor system on 07/06/07. The bolts looked fine and had a double black web threaded through them with 2 rap rings. Another party of three rapped off the system right before I led Creeping Senility to the summit.

Kevin, I don't know about any trad route between Creeping Senility and Aging Gracefully, but Gericrawl has several old bolts and takes gear at its 5.9+ crux. It's located just a few feet to the right of Aging Gracefully. Jul 14, 2007
James Parker
Rochester Hills MI
[Hide Comment] Climbed Creeping Senility again last week... the bolts on top are definitely new now. A local climber has also added a summit register since I was up there last -- a nalgene bottle tied in to a rock. Thanks BHCC (I think that's who did the new bolts)!

Saw on BHCC that it was Sylvan Rocks that repaired the bolts on OFD in July 2008.
bhclimbers.com/BHCC/Route_R…
[edited 9/26/2009] Sep 26, 2008