Type: Trad, Sport, 100 ft
FA: Gordon Briody, Viktor Kramar 1997
Page Views: 1,223 total · 8/month
Shared By: ScottH on Sep 27, 2006
Admins: Scott Coldiron, Jon Nelson, Micah Klesick

You & This Route


23 Opinions

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Description

Opening Ceremonies is the far left line at Special Spot. This is a very enjoyable route. Climb a nice fingertip layback to a ledge, then work up to a distinctive kayak-shaped pod. The pod is not nearly as weird to climb as it looks from its base. From the top of the pod break right and up, eventually reaching a large knob. Make a few moves up a final flake before reaching a critical finger pocket.

Protection

6 bolts, plus gear to 2". Small to midsize wires, some medium TCUs, and a few pieces in the .75-2" range. Something in the neighborhood of 5 or 6 pieces will see you comfortably to the top. The initial moves out of the pod protect well with ~1" gear, and it is nice to have a mid-size TCU or nut for the flake near the top.

Watch the ends of your rope when lowering and rappelling-- we had to downclimb some of the initial layback with a 60m rope.

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Photos

Carol emerging from the "kayak"
Carol emerging from the "kayak"
 1
The Kayak
The Kayak
 0
Starting opening ceremonies.
Starting opening ceremonies.
 0

4 Comments

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Rafe
  5.9
Rafe  
  5.9
This is an awkward and somewhat dirty route. May 5, 2009
Sherri Lewis
Sequim, WA
 
Sherri Lewis   Sequim, WA
 
The rock quality and sequences on this route were lovely. Be sure to stay on route for the last two bolts once out of the "kayak" because the face moves to the anchors are quite fun and really add to the pitch's character. (It looks as though you could bypass this section by going up and left through some dirty, jumbled rock to get to the top.)

As mentioned, be careful on your rap if using a 60m rope--it will not reach the ground. You can downclimb the thin flake with little difficulty. Jun 14, 2011
Michael Carter
Michael Carter  
great route, consistent. Climbing through the kayak is not as you would expect looking up at it. the moves stepping out of the kayak are super fun!
Rapping on a 70m rope easily makes it down, with no down climbing needed. Jun 2, 2014
Tess Wendel
Seattle, WA
 
Tess Wendel   Seattle, WA
 
This was pretty dirty so we did some gardening for those headed up this season. Kayak feature is rad. 70m required. Apr 24, 2017