Interceptor

A deceptively overhanging (maybe 30 degrees beyond vertical at its steepest) hand and fistcrack, it's hard to really appreciate the steepness of this one without either climbing it or viewing it in profile, from just north of the waterpump parking area.

Start in a walled in alcove (no need for a belayer anchor here) and climb up an easy (~5.8) left facing corner for about 30' to where the angle steepens. If your feet are getting cold, go right onto Tide Country (10b). Otherwise, place a high piece with a long runner and step left to a perch at the base of Interceptor. The first move is cruxy -- a disorienting transition from much less than vertical to much more -- and involves a finger jam (small pro: wires, blue alien), but after that it's all hands and fists with the crack widening as the angle decreases. After about 30', the crack pulls onto a slab and is followed to a belay at a ledge below a large boulder and the rap anchor.

You cannot see Interceptor from the waterpump parking and it's easy to mistake a couple of other routes (Stolen Thunder & Bad Manners) for it. Interceptor faces north, is about 20' right of Stolen Thunder.

A couple of thin hands pieces for the initial corner, nuts in the 2-4 Rock range and/or blue Alien size cams for start of the steep part, then 2 each #2, #3 & #4 Camalots for the rest of the pitch. (Doubles needed to sew it up.) A couple of thin hands or fingers pieces are needed to back up the belay.