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Western Lady/ California Girls

5.11 R, Trad, 80 ft (24 m),  Avg: 3.1 from 15 votes
FA: rick fleming 74 ? direct Strand 85
New Hampshire > Cathedral Ledge > Lower Left Wall / Ven…

Description

Hard slab climbing with a nice fall potential. Just right of Bombardment, work up a seam to the first bolt, step right then back left to the second bolt. (California Girls goes up from here)scoot r along a seam to safety.Really good rock. though the fall from the direct can be long, it is safe.

Location

If you can find Bombardment yu are all set

Protection

Not much, a couple of small nuts

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

About to quest up this lovely slab on TR. Photo by Jack Templeton, posted with permission
[Hide Photo] About to quest up this lovely slab on TR. Photo by Jack Templeton, posted with permission

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Lee Hansche
Allenstown, NH... and a van…
 
[Hide Comment] after working it out on TR last week i came back for the lead this week... delicate and fun with a side of scary... Oct 7, 2008
john strand
southern colo
  5.11
[Hide Comment] Tuts and I did western Lady at the second bolt he calls down - " you should try straight up" Seemed reasonable and I did it first try. Went down to the car had a beer (maybe 2) and went back up to lead California Girls no falls. Back to the car for several beers ! Jan 2, 2010
Chris Graham
Bartlett, NH
 
[Hide Comment] BLew my onsight attempt at this one yesterday and logged in some "air time". I will get it next time, but what a cool line! Nov 14, 2010
burlap submariner
[Hide Comment] Nice work Grammy!!!
Way to go for it, I peeked @ this last Sunday while climbing bombardment direct and it looks just my style, matty and I should be up this Sunday if you wanna take another run..........run out. May 3, 2011
john strand
southern colo
  5.11
[Hide Comment] You dudes better do the direct finish !!!! May 9, 2011
jim.dangle

[Hide Comment] So is Californian Girls the direct route? Apr 21, 2013
john strand
southern colo
  5.11
[Hide Comment] Yes, at the second bolt, take a step left then straight up.perfect stone and very sustained. Apr 22, 2013
john strand
southern colo
  5.11
[Hide Comment] Cali Girls-- 28 years ago today .. damn it 's like yesterday.. Apr 29, 2013
Bev Chandley
[Hide Comment] In Fall of 1977 my then boyfriend Rick Fleming completed the first ascent of Western Lady. I had journeyed out west to Washington State to attend college. The fact that Rick named the climb Western Lady honoring me touched my heart then,it still does all these years later! I just thought anyone reading about this climb might find this little history interesting. Apr 15, 2016
DaveJ
 
[Hide Comment] This route is in pretty great shape right now, probably 5.6R, 5.11G. We approached via easy slab with no gear and belayed at the ledge below the finger crack. The finger crack (seam) takes great gear, and the overlap before the hard slab also takes good gear. From there, it's protected with nice shiny new bolts. There's potential for big falls (I took a bunch of them), but they aren't dangerous. It's a great route which should be done more! Aug 26, 2018
Dylan Thomas
Burlington, VT
[Hide Comment] Agreed this is a stellar pitch that should get more traffic than it currently does. It is easy and convenient to TR Western Lady, California Girls, and Ventilator off the Bombardment anchor tree with a 70m by lowering back to the tree ledge at the top of Age Before Beauty, which makes for an excellent hard slab session! It may work with a 60m; haven't tried it but it would be a rope stretcher. Oct 22, 2024