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Smooth Sole Wall - Left Side

California > Tahquitz & Suic… > Suicide Rock > (h) Smooth Sole Walls

Description

This side of the Smooth Sole Wall seems a little less popular despite there being several good routes here, all of which offer great climbing on excellent rock with some runouts. Over and Out (5.9 R), Drowned Out (5.10a R) and Down and Out (5.10c) are some of the better routes to be done here.

The climbing here is primarily runout slab climbing on excellent rock, and while it's a great place to hone your slab technique and lead head, it's probably best to be solid at the grade when leading these routes.

Getting There

From where the trail first meets the rock (Buttress of Cracks), walk left, continue along the Sunshine Face, and start up the broad gully. Before long, exit to the left, along a ledge, and then either tunnel through a flake or scramble up along its top. You are now at the base of the right side of the Smooth Sole Wall. A deep chimney (Chatsworth Chimney) splits the formation. For most of the routes to the right of the chimney, you can descend via a 90' rappel from bolts. Chatsworth Chimney and all routes to the left finish at the top of the rock - you can scramble down along either side.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R
 8
Last Dance
Trad
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a PG13
 1
Sketched Out
Trad
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 10
Blown Out
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 15
Down and Out
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R
 11
Drowned Out
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R
 11
Over and Out
Trad, TR
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 4
Steppin' Out
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Last Dance
 8
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R Trad
Sketched Out
 1
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a PG13 Trad
Blown Out
 10
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad
Down and Out
 15
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
Drowned Out
 11
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R Trad
Over and Out
 11
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R Trad, TR
Steppin' Out
 4
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Start left of the rope line just right of a manzanita tree, then join the rope line in the sun.
[Hide Photo] Start left of the rope line just right of a manzanita tree, then join the rope line in the sun.