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Timberjack

5.8+, Trad,  Avg: 2.9 from 61 votes
FA: unknown
Washington > Central-W Casca… > Skykomish Valley > Index > Middle Town Walls > Winkie Dinkie Cliff

Description

This is an excellent and varied pitch. Some face climbing, laybacks, and even some hand crack.

In my opinion, this route rivals Aries and Mourning Star as one of the best(i.e. only) 5.8's at index.

Location

Just left of gorilla my dreams

Protection

mixed

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Timberjack follows the flakes just left of center and continues up into the right facing corner/offwidth.
[Hide Photo] Timberjack follows the flakes just left of center and continues up into the right facing corner/offwidth.
Jake following Timberjack
[Hide Photo] Jake following Timberjack

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Addict
  5.9
[Hide Comment] For a rack, take a set of cams to a #6 friend.

The upper crack is much easier to layback than thrutch. Probably 10a as an offwidth.

Those 2 bolts should be chopped as there are perfect gear placements right next to them. Oct 11, 2006
sqwirll
Las Vegas
  5.9
[Hide Comment] Agreed with the bolts comment. I climbed the upper part as an offwidth and I didn't think it was too bad. Definitely hard for grade (even for index). Jul 15, 2008
Eric8
Maynard, MA
  5.8
[Hide Comment] I think about every pitch on aries is harder. The largest piece I placed was a 4 four friend. Good but not that good. Apr 19, 2009
Chris Joosse
Tacoma, WA
  5.9-
[Hide Comment] When I did this route, the anchors had a cordolette left in place that someone had used to rap off- if I'd had a quicklink or a rap ring I'd have donated it to the cause, but wasn't prepared at the time.

If I'd had a wider piece than a #3 C4, I'd have used it at the top where the crack goes from fistjam to off-width. Nov 9, 2009
Geoff Georges
Seattle, WA
  5.8
[Hide Comment] this is a great 5.8 A #5 Camalot is fine for top, but if you are scared of OW a #6 is better. I removed the cordolette when I replaced the old anchor with new SS bolts in 2012. Jul 23, 2013
[Hide Comment] Fun climb and a good warm up before hopping onto Gorilla My Dreams. The final moves are way easier as a lieback. Bolt comment: I agree that with the common availability of #5 size cams, the upper bolt no longer serves a purpose. The first bolt is next to a crack that is part of a hollow, thin and detaching flake. That flake, used as a hold, is trustworthy as far as I can tell. Used as a point of protection, sketchy. The first bolt is good one to clip. Sep 1, 2013
Brian K
Seattle, WA
 
[Hide Comment] Fantastic route. Varied climbing which includes face, perfect hands, thin hands, fists, liebacking, and some offwidth at the top. Can be wet on the bottom. Only downside is that its harder to get to than other climbing at index and there's not much else at the wall---which also means there are less people. Mar 18, 2019
Hangdog Hank
Leavenworth, WA
  5.9
[Hide Comment] this is a great route to hit as you're headed to the midwall, or after you top out GNS. I thought that pulling into the lieback/offwidth was the crux. First bolt is nice as the rock quality there is a little questionable but i agree that the 2nd bolt should probably be chopped given that most index climbers carry a #5 or #6 which protects the offwidth. Mar 18, 2019
rl23455
Portland, OR
5.9 PG13
[Hide Comment] first bolt needed due to flakes not supporting a fall. I feel the higher bolt was put there for climbers who did not have a #5 or #6. Aug 20, 2019
[Hide Comment] I dunno if I can recommend this route; the super hollow flakes for the first half aren't great. Climb gingerly and book it to the bolt. Jul 16, 2024
Sage Bedell
Seattle, WA
[Hide Comment] If the concern is that the lower flakes would not hold gear, then it might make sense to add another bolt lower down. The existing lower bolt is a tad high for the first bit of protection? Aug 5, 2024