Fiddler on the Woof

I agree that this is a fun route that would not exist sans carved holds. However, it compares with Slammer at the Wall of Justice in difficulty and also is similar to Big Dog. However the transition back to the natural holds is not 12c if you dial in the feet well. Maybe we are splitting hairs in the distinction between 12a/ 12b, and also 12b /12c. Either way, when I climbed the route, the moves didn't feel harder than 12a/b. Aug 2, 2001

5.12a ? Oct 1, 2001

This was another chipping discussion from long ago, I just moved it to features at climbingboulder.com/resourc…

Myke Jul 18, 2002

Without intending to bust open a now well worked discussion about drilling and chipping, I thought the movement through the roof was really fun. Big muscle moves on a big roof. What is done is done, so if you enjoy pulling big moves on jugs with limited approach and on good solid rock, Fiddler offers up a good option with some fun climbing. Sep 7, 2004

Rating: 5.fun. Dec 13, 2005

Holy crap, hard. Want to make it a project for the summer. Couldn't quite figure out the technique for this one. Even on top rope. Jun 4, 2008

I didn't and won't climb this route, but I did get a look at a huge drilled hold on my way down from "Hot Dog". Very disappointing! Jun 19, 2008

Good bit of fun climbing. Dec 19, 2008

This was a stiff warm-up, man!! Sep 13, 2009

Fun enough, but the crux is really clipping the bolt after the drilled holds. Dicking around at that bolt cost me the onsight. I skipped it on redpoint. Didn't seem harder than 12a to me.

Keep your eyes out for the no-hands kneebar rest. Nov 28, 2009

Sure it's drilled, nothing can change that now, so I enjoyed it for what it's worth, a good workout, crux is holding the body tension to hang a couple of the draws. Jun 22, 2010

Yes, I'm not going to lie, I had fun cranking on the drilled jugs! Face moves down low are super cool (2 holds look mysterious?), a no hands knee bar, and then a couple bolts of near horizontal ceiling climbing on jugs. Keeping body tension with poor feet and one challenging clip probably make this the crux for most. Still fun though.... Oct 18, 2012

Is it chipped? Obviously. Does that suck? Of course. Does it climb well? Hell yeah. Enjoy it for what is worth, I enjoyed it! Sep 15, 2014

Quite a fun route.

BETA Alert:
For some reason, this wasn't obvious to me, so I wanted to capture this for memory. Moving off kneebar with right hand in good hold, cross left to drilled jug, right heel hook, and clip. Match hands, right foot on point and go right hand to natural flake - wrap thumb; quickly move left foot up high on nub (before moving left hand). Left hand to drilled pocket and right foot under roof - clip. Left hand to crimp, drop left foot to drilled jug, flag right; right hand to sloper, right foot to chip and shoot left hand to crack; right foot up to flake - done! Dec 31, 2014

FA: Alen Nelson/Greg Purnell, 1999.
While Mark Rololololololofson watched his buddies manufacture holds.

Is that better? Apr 17, 2017

First ascent correction to note: I was in no way involved in the first ascent or creation of this route. It was entirely the work of Alan Nelson who bolted & manufactured this route. It was one of the few lines that Alan manufactured in over 30 years of his climbing career. His career encompassed trad, sport, big walls, & scary runout trad routes like Bachar-Yerian. He pioneered many of Clear Creek most classic sport routes. He was the driving force on route development in the canyon throughout the 1990s.

First ascent: Alan Nelson & Greg Purnell in August 1999. Check my Clear Creek Canyon Sport Climber's Guide (1999) & (2006).

I redpointed this route numerous times between 1999 & 2006. It always felt like solid 5.12. Great fun. Best done with Run Underdog, Big Dog, then Fiddler On The Woof, & then finishing with Hot Dog for a good workout.

Lastly, Two Chains is a troll, & his comments should be deleted. May 28, 2017

Someone give old man Mark a hug. Jul 27, 2017