PRINT: Rock Climb Soft Touch, Vedauwoo

Soft Touch

5.6, Trad,

Avg: 2.8 from 61 votes
FA: unknown
Wyoming > Laramie Area > Vedauwoo > Valley Massif

Access Issue: Temporary Notice on aerial herbicide treatment & Bad Bolt Submission Form Details

PSA for those thinking about a trip. The gates are still closed and the sign says enter at your own risk. "Aerial application by helicopter of the herbicide Rejuvra will target over 5,700 acres on a landscape that has been the focus of multiple years’ worth of treatment."

fs.usda.gov/detail/mbr/news….

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1…

Description

This route is located to left side of the Northwest face.

It will be the crack system that is directly right of the large roof. The crack is mostly fist-sized that works its way over two bulges. The bulges are the cruxes of the climb. You can do the climb in one pitch (60m rope), but to minimize rope drag, you can set up a belay on the ledge before the first bulge. There are two bolts at the top belay.

Warning: 15 feet right of the two bolts at the top of the route is a set of rappel chains. Double ropes are REQUIRED to reach the ground. If you don't have doubles, scramble up the chimney above the bolts and either walk off climber's left OR explore your way right to the rappel station above Zipper.

Protection

I found a #3.5 Camalot helpful to protect the moves through the second bulge.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Me approaching the 1st roof of the climb. The harder roof looming above. Great climb!

untitled

Sheldon Wernick completing the 2nd pitch of Soft Touch. Photo taken by Stacy Bender, summer of 2000.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Anonymous Coward

Just to the right of the anchors on top of the 2nd pitch there are other anchors with chains you can rap from. There is a little warning sign that two rope rappel is needed. We made it fine with 2x60m ropes, I think 2x50m will also do it. Jun 24, 2002

nolteboy
Fort Collins, CO

This is a very good route, especially for the grade.... Jun 10, 2005

KevinCO
Loveland, CO

If you like traverses (and Vedauvoo has some great ones, i.e. Journey to Coramonde; NE Cutoff; Hair Lip; Captain Nemo; Golden Grief; from EO Lieback to the top of 5.11 Crack; Grand Traverse; etc.), try this: Start up Soft Touch and traverse across the horizontal crack to Screw. It starts easy and progressively gets harder. Fist jams are required and then a very thin and off balance mantle to stem across to Screw. Take 1 or 2 #4 Camalots and assorted medium and large cams (If I remember correctly, I think that I used a Big Dude.). Don't run it out because of the ground fall potential. Protect your second! This route doesn't have the best position, but for anyone that loves traverses, it is worth the price of admission. I believe I had the FA since there were potato chip flakes that broke off at key hold areas. The last 3-4 moves are .9. Mar 24, 2006

John Korfmacher
Fort Collins, CO

Climbed 6/11/06 with H. McIntyre...the guidebook recommends this for the 'beginning' leader. Pro is good, but the upper bulge crux felt rather stiffer than the given 5.easy grade. Rap chains require two ropes! BTW the other two rap stations (70') indicated in the guidebook above Screw have been removed. Jun 12, 2006

Petsfed 00
Snohomish, WA

5.5

5.5 felt about right for this, although it took some looking (and a little bravery on my part, my ego wouldn't let me fall on a 5.5) to find the right sequence. If you string the two pitches together, a double set of Camalots #0.75 to #3 with a little bit above and a set of nuts protected this very well. The second crux did feel more difficult than the crux of Edward's Crack, but I've done Ed's so many times that it all feels easy to me. Apr 28, 2007

jeffrey heddings
denver,CO

Fun but grunty. 5.6 is a better grade. it will still see all the traffic, but parties will be more ready. A great beginner CHALLENGE, and that is what it's about. Jul 12, 2008

Cory Harelson
Boise, ID

5.5

Fun climb. If you resort to chimneying at the bulges, the cruxes really aren't that hard, and there is great pro. Jul 27, 2009

Katie Foster
Laramie, Wy

5.7

I led this last weekend as one long pitch and would say that the 5.5 rating seems too low. To me, 5.5 means it's a great climb to take a brand new beginner on, or would be a great first lead, and I would recommend many 5.6s and 5.7s in the area for a first lead over this one. Not necessarily a good intro route. Jul 14, 2015

Rob Davies UK
Cheshire, UK

5.8

The bulge near the top seemed like a 5.8 move to me. In UK terms it's mostly HS 4a with a VS 5a crux. Good climbing, great line. Oct 10, 2015

Sarah Meiser
Boulder, CO

5.8

The Orenczak/Lynn guide lists this as a 5.5 but then talks about 5.7 and 5.8 cruxes in the description. Certainly felt harder than Voo 5.5. May 7, 2017

Bailey Moore
Laramie WY

5.6

Just to add to the grading confusion, the crux felt a bit harder than any move on Screw but overall feels like 5.6. Sep 27, 2020