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Sessions

5.12a, Sport, 60 ft (18 m),  Avg: 3.7 from 142 votes
FA: Shane Willet, Fred Henion, Jonathan Knight, 1995
Utah > Northeast Utah > Uinta Mountains > Stone Garden
Warning Access Issue: Located in a National Forest Fee Area DetailsDrop down

Description

Underneath the huge overhang at the Stone Garden there is a ledge that can be reached by walking/scrambling up some loose dirt to the right of it. Once on the ledge there is a bolt that can be clipped. This marks the start of the route. Sessions follows the bolts that go furthest left of the climber. Sessions reminded me of climbing an upside down stair case. Very fun and substained climbing!

Protection

~12 draws

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Fred Henion showing us how it's done 11 years after the FA. He hiked it 4 times this day.
[Hide Photo] Fred Henion showing us how it's done 11 years after the FA. He hiked it 4 times this day.
Tim on Sessions
[Hide Photo] Tim on Sessions
Jon goes for the clip just before the crux
[Hide Photo] Jon goes for the clip just before the crux
Use the fixed chain draw on sessions to distinguish the two separate lines. Obsessions in yellow, sessions in red.
[Hide Photo] Use the fixed chain draw on sessions to distinguish the two separate lines. Obsessions in yellow, sessions in red.
Kelly working it.
[Hide Photo] Kelly working it.
lowering off Sessons
[Hide Photo] lowering off Sessons
Sessions
[Hide Photo] Sessions
William lowers off after sending Sessions. Now that's overhung...
[Hide Photo] William lowers off after sending Sessions. Now that's overhung...
William shakes out before the crux
[Hide Photo] William shakes out before the crux
Big holds in steep terrain. Best route at Stone Garden (that I have done).
[Hide Photo] Big holds in steep terrain. Best route at Stone Garden (that I have done).
this is a great pic of the route
[Hide Photo] this is a great pic of the route
Homeboy almost had a perfect accent, here you can see him peel off......
[Hide Photo] Homeboy almost had a perfect accent, here you can see him peel off......

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Anonymous Coward
[Hide Comment] As fun as sport climbing gets... Sessions is reason in itself to get me to the Uintas. Nice work Jonathon! Aug 24, 2005
d-know
electric lady land
  5.12a
[Hide Comment] one of my favorite clip-ups of all time.
this gem almost overhangs as much as it goes up! Jan 28, 2006
Alec L
 
[Hide Comment] We snapped a dogbone on the 4th bolt of this today. He took a pretty big whipper and nearly decked. Looks like there was a pretty sharp edge slowly sawing the quickdraw on each fall (there were probably 4-5 beforehand throughout the day), right before the crux. Check your draws for wear on this one if you're working it for a while! Aug 29, 2009
camhead
Vandalia, Appalachia
[Hide Comment] Was it just me, or does this route get terrible rope drag? I'm not sure if long draws would alleviate it, but the final lip turn was horrendous. I actually had to jug the route to clean it. Def. a candidate for permadraws, in my opinion. Jul 26, 2011
Ryan Stott
Salt Lake City, UT
  5.12a
[Hide Comment] What is the line just left of Sessions on the big overhang? It is now marked as 12b in chalk, and it also has a stick figure marked in chalk under the overhang. This is a pretty fun climb, and it doesn't seem to be on any map. Aug 16, 2011
Martin Berzins
[Hide Comment] The Route left of Sessions is called Obsessions 12b. I bolted and then led it several years ago. When the route was first done there was a large rock underneath it that enabled the first holds to be reached. The rock is now gone. Without the rock the start is a lot harder and at 12b some pull on the first bolt.

Also worth saying that the traverse left out of Sessions to the top of StinkBug is incorrectly reported in the guide book.

Its name is Properly Josed 5.12a and the first ascent team included
Jose Periera . I think that the date is incorrect too. as the route was climbed in August 1998.

Hope that this helps clarify matters.

Martin Berzins

. Feb 10, 2013
Ryan Stott
Salt Lake City, UT
  5.12a
[Hide Comment] Thank you, Martin! Can you add this information here on MP? Mar 28, 2013
TS Burton
Ogden, Utah
 
[Hide Comment] I gave Sessions four stars, but I believe Obsessions (just left of Sessions) is actually better and now takes over as the funnest route in the Uintas (IMHO). Oct 22, 2013
Past User
[Hide Comment] Fun, steep, endurance oriented route. Nearly 11a move after move all the way.

The quicklink attaching the fixed chain to the bolt hanger in the middle of the route (4th bolt?) is badly worn by the edge of the bolt hanger- its starting to get dangerous. I didn't have a wrench or a replacement quicklink, so I couldn't fix it. I'll fix it next time up there if nobody beats be to it, but beware! Jul 5, 2014
Simon W
Nowhere Land
[Hide Comment] Great climb. Respectfully disagree that the route is sustained 11- endurance.

Has some long powerful reaches with small/nebulous feet to somewhat slopey holds. And a power + tech crux as well.

In one section it is just about holding on, the rest of it has some thoughtful powerful moves. Earns the grade. Jul 30, 2017
Mulch
Jacobstown, NJ
[Hide Comment] First person view of the climb youtu.be/3O1Eo1hrz3Q Mar 22, 2019
JohnWesely Wesely
Lander
 
[Hide Comment] This route would probably be 11a or b and a bit boring if the foot holds were as good as the hand grips. Fortunately the footwork is technical and insecure in spots, keeping the climbing engaging pretty much the whole way. Very cool feature in a wild setting. Must do route. Jul 21, 2024