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Pod

5.13b, Sport, 70 ft (21 m),  Avg: 3.9 from 73 votes
FA: Porter Jarrard, 1992
W Virginia > New River Gorge… > Summersville (G… > Summersville La… > Coliseum

Description

NOT ‘The Pod’, simply called “Pod.”  Crank out a quick boulder problem through a roof and style up slopey jugs to a traverse into the "Pod" feature-- a sort of horizontal hand-sized slot with an embedded piece of petrified wood sticking out of the lower right part. There are a couple ways to do the crux; straight up out of the pod with a horizontal handjam; or a more powerful leftward move to slopy sidepulls. Either way, you've got two more bolts of sustained climbing before reaching a salvation ledge.

The final boulder problem from the ledge to the anchors have been the scene of much heartbreak and anguish. Make sure you get this final sequence and difficult clip dialed!

Location

First route on the right side of the Colosseum proper. Left of the ridiculous looking Still Life boulder.

Protection

Fixed draws with steel wiregates...plush.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Fighting through one of the harder moves before Salvation Ledge does its job and restores vitality for the final showdown.
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Climber: @dirtysouthclimber
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Photo: @houndsgrin
[Hide Photo] Fighting through one of the harder moves before Salvation Ledge does its job and restores vitality for the final showdown. Climber: @dirtysouthclimber Photo: @houndsgrin
Kyle Harmon-Townsend sticking the lower crux of Pod (5.13b) at the glorious Coliseum, Summersville Lake, WV.
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Insta: @dirtysouthclimber
[Hide Photo] Kyle Harmon-Townsend sticking the lower crux of Pod (5.13b) at the glorious Coliseum, Summersville Lake, WV. Insta: @dirtysouthclimber
Alex Ritchie on the upper section of Pod before the final showdown boulder problem.
[Hide Photo] Alex Ritchie on the upper section of Pod before the final showdown boulder problem.
Copping a shake in the flowy, pleasant intro of Pod (13b). 
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Climber: @dirtysouthclimber
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Photo: @houndsgrin
[Hide Photo] Copping a shake in the flowy, pleasant intro of Pod (13b). Climber: @dirtysouthclimber Photo: @houndsgrin
Will starting the business of the climb.
[Hide Photo] Will starting the business of the climb.
Charlton Jordan at the redpoint crux of Pod
[Hide Photo] Charlton Jordan at the redpoint crux of Pod

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

LeeAB Brinckerhoff
Austin, TX
  5.13b
[Hide Comment] There are bolts on an extension and a newer right finish, I don't know if either has been red-pointed.

The climbing out of the POD is pretty continuous on flat edges. The upper boulder problem is not that bad, the holds are all pretty big, just longer pulls on a steeper section of rock, also I only did 3 moves to clip the chains, not 5.

Very fun, perfect stone and cool varied movement. Oct 31, 2009
[Hide Comment] This is a great video for detailed beta: youtube.com/watch?v=_mqXOqn… May 30, 2018
Kyle Townsend
Slade, KY
  5.13b
[Hide Comment] This route is world-class. Beautiful, porcelain brilliant-white stone and perfect rock quality. The moves getting past the Pod are awesome, and the route stays on you all the way to the top! Many have fallen clipping the chains, so keep it together up there! Aug 30, 2018