TL;DR - Can I french free my way up Vertigo if I get too scared?
Long: Soooo I really want to lead Eldo 11s. But for any number of reasons I haven't yet been able to do it, and most of it is mental. 10ft between TCU placements doesn't do much to help out either. I've taken a lead fall on a purple TCU, so I "trust" the gear. I have led 11+ in Indian Creek, and 11s on granite around the front range.
Vertigo seems like a great route to throw myself in to the frying pan. Are there any reasons that it shouldn't be considered "beginner" friendly? I do understand this is an 11 in Eldo...but maybe that is my issue.
There are easier 11s to be had in Eldo if you are looking to move your way up and for that matter plenty of sandbagged 10s :) Great route but but the crux is a bit temperature and humidity dependent IMHO. First pitch isn't a gimme either so might be a good gauge for you (looking at the official pitch break down I link 1+2 as the first).
Concur with the others. It's super french-free-able and steep and spectacular position and exposure...worth it to try. But it's kind of like you'd be skipping a bunch of other routes and jumping right to the creme de la creme...your call. You can do it though.
20 kN
·
Mar 11, 2017
·
Unknown Hometown
· Joined Feb 2009
· Points: 1,346
Yes you can french your way up the .11 pitch if needed. It's a fairly splitter dihedreal crack and it's short. You can place a piece every foot if you want, although you'd get pumped quick trying. The dihedral section is probably only about 40' long and then the pitch is pretty much done. Also, when I climbed it two years ago there was a ton of fixed gear on it.
Eliot Augusto wrote:Thanks for the info. It was an amazing climb. I suddenly have an urge to sell all my quickdraws and buy a dozen small cams. Do you folks have suggestions any other "beginner" friendly 11's? Or 10 dihedrals? I found a big flaw in my technique on the 3rd pitch.
Outer Space (do the northcut carter start Or if your brave first pitch of WIde country to XM to outer pace)
Tagger Center Route NW corner or the bastile Hair City T2 Arts spar All of rincon Pony Express Zip code Iron Pony
Bucnh of easy 10s like: Chockstone Xanadu there is a start.
Eliot Augusto wrote:Thanks for the info. It was an amazing climb. I suddenly have an urge to sell all my quickdraws and buy a dozen small cams. Do you folks have suggestions any other "beginner" friendly 11's? Or 10 dihedrals? I found a big flaw in my technique on the 3rd pitch.
: Maybe not for beginner simple pro... learn some nutcraft: Over the hill Disappearing act 2nd for outer space zip code Mail ridge link-up
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