The Hand Rock Climbing

The Hand, so named for its resemblance to a mitten, is home to a "handful" of difficult sport lines. The steep lines on this formation are comprised of hard crimps and flakes on the upper sections of the wall, and gentle huecos at the bottom. Routes ascend the south and west faces of the formation and receive sun from late-morning to mid-afternoon. All the best lines finish at two bolt anchors for easy lowering off. The classic line Power Bulge (5.12c) takes a line up the steep south face of the formation, and the ever impressive Rock Atrocity (5.13d) takes the severely overhanging blank face high on the formations southwest corner. The south face is closed seasonally for bird nesting, but the west face remains open all year round.

Update from Carl Schaefer: The upper routes (from the left end to Cardboard Cowboy) are at the top of a slab that's best climbed by hugging the face and using the gritty but positive pocket handholds where the slab meets the wall. The slab feels to me like awkward 5.6 R, especially with a pack on.

L->R:

A. Quest for Balance, 11, 1p, 60', bolts.

B. The Handy Warm Up, 10-, 1p, 60', bolts.
C. New Saigon, 11- R, 1p, 60', bolts.
D. Cardboard Cowboy, 11, 1p, 45', bolts.
E. Father on Fire, 10+, 1p, 50', bolts & gear.
F. The Perfect Kiss (P1 of Rock Atrocity), 11+, 1p, 60', bolts.
above F. Rock Atrocity, 13+, 1p, 50', bolts.
G. Lackin' Slacks (aka The Full Monty), 11- R, 1p, 65', gear.
H. Power Bulge, 12, 1p, 70', bolts.
I. Back in Slacks, 11, 1p, 50', bolts & missing pin.
J. Back in Yaks, 9 R, 1p, 55', gear.

K. East Face/Hand, 4, 3p, gear.