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Davy Jones' Locker

5.12b PG13, Trad, 100 ft (30 m), 2 pitches,  Avg: 3.9 from 19 votes
FA: Tony Yaniro, Randy Leavitt (1981)
California > Southern-Wester… > Southern Sierra… > Needles > Sorcerer

Description

An amazing, splitter hand to thin hand slanting flake/crack goes for 70 feet up to an undercling/jam traverse (#3 Camalot under the roof with sling). Then a good chicken-wing and stem rest with a finger size piece. Reach out right and get a small TCU and turn on the POWER. Hold on and place one of your smaller Stoppers higher in the crack/seam out right. If there is chalk on the crux holds, then you are totally stoked! Crimp and crank your way up sequential edges that get better and aim for the top of the headwall and welcome jugs. Make sure your last pieces are bomber 'cause its big air if you blow the sequence!

Once you are standing above the angle of repose, it's EZ to the bolted anchor, which is 3 older bolts but seems okay.

Location

The 5.7 approach pitch up the right side of the big block under the route is actually fun and interesting (I think). My Aussie comrades, being unaccustomed to chimney techniques, thought otherwise. A 60M rope lowers off with a little excess. It is possible to rap off the top of the approach pitch using 1 60M with some effort but I would recommend bringing 2 ropes or 1 70M!!

Per Davy Jones' Locker: Continue down the gully between the Sorcerer and the Witch. Pass the Fire Wall and Pyromania. You will see two chimneys on your right to the north. Take the shorter steeper left chimney, climb up to a tree. Perhaps haul packs to here. Continue to the top and then have second send up the bag once they climb up.

Protection

(4-5x) #2 Camalot, (3-4x) #1 Camalot, #3 Camalot, (1x) Purple-Orange size TCU's, (1x) #4-7 Stoppers, 60M Rope(s) or 70M (better)

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

AJ sends Davy Jones Locker
[Hide Photo] AJ sends Davy Jones Locker
Such an epic line!
[Hide Photo] Such an epic line!

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

[Hide Comment] This is a great route. You can actually continue up the crack at the top and place some more gear if you're worried about whipping. Sep 12, 2009
[Hide Comment] My hands are sweaty just remembering this one. It is excellent and gets extra credit for, fortunately, being all naturally protected. Aug 12, 2013
Lucas Barth
Moab, UT
[Hide Comment] The anchor bolts on this route have been upgraded by Josh Janes, July 2018. Aug 12, 2018
[Hide Comment] Just to clarify Lucas' comment: I removed a couple of the old buttonheads and equalized the chains a bit better (the anchor is now bombproof), but I can't take credit for rebolting this one. However, I did replace the bolts on Pieces of Eight, and the late Hayden Kennedy replaced the bolts on Duty Now for the Future, so with the possible exception of The Avenger, all the routes in this sector are good to go! Sep 10, 2018
Kristian Solem
Monrovia, CA
 
[Hide Comment] Josh, correct me if I'm wrong, but I though it
was Hayden Miller who replaced the Duty Now bolts... Sep 15, 2020
[Hide Comment] Hey Kris! I personally have no first-hand knowledge of this but I just double checked my email and back in July 2018 you told me it was Hayden Kennedy; I was just relaying here what you told me there. If we’re both in error I’ll correct my comment. Sep 15, 2020