The Columns North Climbing

Approach the North Columns by walking up the left side of the formation to a large flat ledge below the climbs.  Most of the climbs are cracks but there is a bolted face climb.  One does need to lead something to set the TRs.

The climbs from left to right.

1)  approach pitch (5.7):  this pitch gets one to the top of the cracks.  TRs can be set here.

2)  crack #5 variation (5.8):  this is the left portion of the Y.

3)  crack #5 (5.9):  this is a great hand crack, follow the right leg of the Y.  There is a fixed anchor here.

4)  crack #4 (5.10):  follow a shallow crack weakness and go over the left portion of the roof (large cam needed if led).

5)  crack #3 (5.9):  follow the crack weakness and traverse right and around the roof (large cam needed if led).

6)  crack #2 (5.8):  start as in crack #1 but go left up the face to the top.

7)  crack #1 (Baskin Robbins) (5.8):  climb the large crack (chimney & off width) in the corner but stay in the crack to the top.  There is a fixed anchor here.  Go through a short tunnel to the start of the climb.

8)  bolted arete (5.9):  go up the blunt arete to the right of crack #1 and share anchor with crack #1.  This was an old TR.