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The 3rd Rail
5.10 PG13,
Trad, 80 ft (24 m),
Avg: 1 from 2
votes
FA: Joseph Healy
Washington
> South-W & Tacoma
> Columbia Gorge
> Beacon Rock
> S Face
Access Issue: CLOSURES: South and East Faces (NW & W Faces Remain Open)
Details
The South Face and access trail is closed from Feb. 1st through July 15th, depending on peregrine falcon nesting. Portland Area Climbers Coalition, Washington Climbers Coalition, and the Access Fund are coordinating on this issue. Disregarding this closure will harm their efforts to adjust it and their relationship with land managers.
The east face is closed to climbing year-round due to possible sensitive/endangered plant species.
The NW face and West face routes remain open.
See Closure section below for more details.
Description
Jim Opdycke had sent Joseph up into the vertical wilderness looking for "an old pin up there somewhere" thinking there may have been a previous ascent. Joseph had originally boldly led up through the moss and choss belayed by Jim and had lowered off, then came back and finished it ground up to the belay shared with Reasonable Richard and Local Access with Bill Coe. It was one of those full on sun 100 degree days, with sweat rolling every which direction (No chalk of course) so he could retrieve his gear. Then he just kept going up. Bold lead. Joseph came back and did the 2nd ascent lead as well with Bill Coe and Ujahn Davisson in tow, Ujahn took the pictures you see here.
Later learned that there is a strong possibility this was a line which had been cleaned some by Mark Deffenbach 2 years earlier but not done.
The climbing starts easy on the lower slab and gets harder as the wall becomes vertical. The pro gets better as you ascend, however, be good at putting in your own gear as the route has challenging placements although the long runouts become less long as you get higher up.
Location
This is a good first pitch for the upper routes: Blood Sweat and Smears, Flight Time, Flying Circus and Flying Swallow as it ends on the ledge which signifies the start of those routes. The start is just right of Reasonable Richard and Local Access about 30 feet right of the 3rd tunnel. Rap with a single 60 meter and watch the ends of your rope, you may need to downclimb a few feet.
Protection
Small to medium wired nuts and a few TCU's or Aliens. Josephs first piece was a crack-N-up about 30 feet off the deck as Ujahns picture indicates, and it has a few crap pieces interspersed with a few good ones.
[Hide Photo] Joseph Healy leading the middle section of The 3rd Rail at Beacon Rock. FA July 2006 Photo: Ujahn Davisson
[Hide Photo] Joe's 1st piece of pro: The 3rd Rail at Beacon Rock. FA July 2006 Photo: Ujahn Davisson
[Hide Photo] Joseph leading 1/2 way up the 3rd rail. Photo: Ujahn Davisson
[Hide Photo] Joseph starting up The 3rd Rail at Beacon Rock. FA July 2006 Photo: Ujahn Davisson