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Skeletal Ribs

5.6, Trad, 60 ft (18 m),  Avg: 2.8 from 195 votes
FA: Neal Brodien, Jamie Cunningham, August 1992
New Hampshire > WM: Franconia N… > Echo Crag > 1. Square Inch Wall

Description

Climb the crack that leads between the two trees. It starts out as a hand crack at the bottom and gets steadily wider near the top (up to a #3.5 or #4 Camalot). Continue up a second, smaller crack just left of the first tree (the crux is avoiding the tree). Climb through a small overhang right of the second tree, and follow a third crack (hands) to the anchors. Fun climbing, great protection.

Location

About 15-20 feet right of the ladder. Look for a smooth face right of Maiming of the Shrew split by two horizontals. Skeletal Ribs is the prominent, widening crack right of the face that climbs between two trees growing out of the wall.

Protection

Standard rack with a couple of bigger cams. 2 bolt anchor at the top.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Skeletal Ribs, without the trees.
[Hide Photo] Skeletal Ribs, without the trees.
At the anchors on Skeletal Ribs.
[Hide Photo] At the anchors on Skeletal Ribs.
Climbing through the crux.
[Hide Photo] Climbing through the crux.
Sewing it up
[Hide Photo] Sewing it up
The offwidth section.
[Hide Photo] The offwidth section.
Tim Mijal styling it up high on the route.
[Hide Photo] Tim Mijal styling it up high on the route.
Just off the ground on Skeletal.
[Hide Photo] Just off the ground on Skeletal.
one more of Skeletal...
[Hide Photo] one more of Skeletal...
mike on Skeletal...
[Hide Photo] mike on Skeletal...
Krista just working past the dead tree, and Blake working up Threading the Alpine Needle.
[Hide Photo] Krista just working past the dead tree, and Blake working up Threading the Alpine Needle.
Krista working her way up this great warm-up, ever widening crack.
[Hide Photo] Krista working her way up this great warm-up, ever widening crack.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Todd Harris
Lakewood, CO
[Hide Comment] I doubt the forest service would mind as long as you informed them of your intentions. A lot of forest rangers climb so I'm sure they might facilitate the removal or grant you some special permit.

White Mountain National Forest
Phone: (603)528-8721
AND:
Franconia Notch State Park
General Information: (603)823-8800 May 12, 2008
Max Hernandez
Newton, MA
  5.6
[Hide Comment] I had trouble fitting a number 4 in on the bottom section. I would recommend a number 5 if you are not solid at the grade. Sep 22, 2019
Derek Ehrnschwender
Cambridge, MA
[Hide Comment] Climbers without any previous hand or foot jamming experience might find this tricky at the grade, especially the wide start. Climbers WITH hand and foot jamming experience (or those stoked to learn) will have a ball! Aug 17, 2020
Jennifer Grace
Worcester, MA
  5.6
[Hide Comment] The anchors are past the lip at the top and they have rap rings. This is a good place to get a nice view of Cannon's front 5.

Also, very much agree that this climb is tricky if you are learning how to jam. I thought it felt harder than the 5.6s further north on the wall because I'm still learning to jam. Agree, a number 5 from Black Diamond (maybe 6 or 7 from DMM?) would fit better at the bottom. Finally, if you tend to place more gear when you get scared, bring some extra alpine draws. I ended up using the 9 that I had. Aug 14, 2022