Manic Depression

Special credit should also be given to James Schroeder for the original vision of this line and to Kayte Decker for her massive cleaning effort. The wall was less than pristine when we started, but thanks to Kayte's dualing brushes and her cloud of dust, it's clean now. Jul 1, 2007

Years ago when I was a student at Stevens Point, we worked this route on top-rope a couple times. I'm not sure if anyone ever did it, but great work on cleaning and bolting the line guys. It was a ghost crag for a long time, so its really great to see people climbing in the area again. Jul 15, 2007

I beleive this is the same climb I just posted a few days ago as "Manic Depression". I will have to check it out when I get down there to be sure. If it is the same climb the rating of 5.11b seems a bit low. Jul 17, 2007

Erik,

I borrowed your photo of Manic Depression, and overlayed a line showing where Trundle Pete goes. I had always assumed your TR line was to the right of this, going up through the overhangs, etc.

Trundle Pete makes a quick dash up for the pocket, on somewhat thin climbing. Next it traverses the bulge heading left on relatively easy climbing (although exceedingly height dependent) and then heads up into the scoop at the top, finally finshing with a dynamic move from the upper patina to the horizontal.

Cheers,
James Jul 18, 2007

From the sounds of it, Trundle Pete and Manic Depression are the same route. I spent a while trying to TR a way up this face, and Trundle is the only line I saw. The line to the right would maybe go, but it would be very hard. Plus, that conspicuous jug is very loose and would need to be pried off. This might make the route way, way hard.

I thought 11b seemed accurate for Trundle, but maybe it's a bit harder. The best way to figure this out is to have a bunch of people do the route and get a consensus going. To me, though, it seemed similar to ABM and Black Rib at DL.


Jul 18, 2007

Manic Depression and Trundle Pete are the same route. The route further right has been sessioned many times and seems to be extremely difficult and I beleive no one has made it further than say 10-15 feet from the ground. I beleive that Manic Depression is at least in the 5.12 range, but then again I am only 5'10" and when I did the last moves I did them staticly vs dynamicly. Jul 21, 2007

This route needs traffic to confirm the grade. Go out there and get on it. It would be a shame for it to get dirty again. Jul 22, 2007

I think the debate over the grade of Manic Depressive could be related to beta. I'm 5'2" so slapping up either side of the bulge was really hard for me. Jay used an undercling to bypass the last two slap moves before the top of the bulge. That beta made the crux considerably easier. With that beta, I would probably would put this route at 11c, as it was quite reachy for me. I'd say it's less sustained than Pagan Rituals. I think the cruxes of the two routes are equally hard, albeit different styles. Jul 22, 2007

well! let me be the first to add to the consensus....i went with 5.11c. Thought it was very technical and balancy, .11b felt a little low. Jul 22, 2007

i would have to say this is around a 11c or 11d. there is no need to stick clip the first bolt either. great route though nice and sustained Sep 17, 2007

Sweet and solid bit of sport climbing here. I really enjoyed working this route. I really enjoyed unlocking the sequence of the top moves. The reverse right hand push to move up into final moves is super fun and styl'n.... Tough little route...

Apr 15, 2009

finally got on this thing. Great route. The rest in the middle was needed. May 26, 2009

Finally got on this. Bottom was a little dirty, I'll bring some brushes back the next time. To me the bottom was the crux, very thin. Great line that needs to be climbed more and it will stay clean. Given the local nature of this crag this would make a great project for someone climbing above their limit. We mostly climb in the Red River Gorge and using that as a baseline both of us that got on it rated it 11d. I know Wisconsin grades tend to be more stout but this would be a very difficult send for a high 11 low 12 leader. We had a mid 10 leader TR it later and he couldn't get up it. Thanks for the great job on this, fun climb. Jun 27, 2009

I was thinking 5.11b/c. Hard to start! The first clip is very balancey, stick clip might be good. This was not very dirty at all today, just a bit o' scrubbin' made it shine! Aug 12, 2009

This is definitely one of the best routes at the hollow. Crux is certainly the opening thin moves. After you hit the sidepocket and cross over into the layback rest, the remainder of the route consists of a couple moves to an awesome dynamic move off a small right hand patina. Feels a little harder than 5.11c. Id posit 5.11d-12 May 14, 2012