Dark Horse

This is a terrific route which starts in the crack system directly left of Peacemaker. Although the climb ascends the relatively unappealing-looking gully and chimney left of Peacemaker, don't let the appearance deceive you ... this a great, fun route.

Pitch 1 (5.9, 180'): Start in a short crack about 10' left of the start of Peacemaker. Climb past two bolts to gain the large, right facing crack/corner. Climb up this feature until it joins the bolted climb to the right (the first pitch of Peacemaker). Continue on Peacemaker a few moves (protecting on bolts) as it turns left into the chimney system. Instead of heading up and right to Peacemaker's anchors, continue up into the chimney to a two bolt anchor.

Pitch 2 (5.10a/b, 145'): Climb up the gully on easy terrain clipping a few spaced-out bolts. As the gully steepens and heads toward a chimney, the bolts are placed closer together. You will encounter an interesting 5.10 a/b stemming move just before you enter the chimney. Continue up the chimney protecting with bolts and gear. Exit the chimney and belay at a two bolt anchor.

Pitch 3 (5.10a, 120'): Start up and slightly right on thin cracks (10a) protected by a bolt. Place gear to protect more moves up the crack until you gain a series of bolts headed up and left to a bulge. Pull the bulge (10a) and head up and right to an anchor below a roof.

Pitch 4 (5.10a, 160'): Transfer the belay 15 feet left to a comfortable ledge; tie off a large tree as your new anchor. Head straight up the corner to a bolt protecting a fun bulge move (5.9). At the top of the bulge move six feet right into a crack. Ascend the crack protecting with gear until bolts lead you to short traverse right (10a). Continue upward placing gear and following bolts to a two bolt anchor.

Pitch 5 (5.10 a/b, 140'): An excellent pitch. Head up and slightly left on tricky face moves (10a/b) over a bulge. Continue up excellent slab climbing to a two bolt anchor left of a shrub.

(The anchor for the final pitch of Stampede is on the other side of the shrub, offering an alternative, difficult finish to this climb)

Pitch 6 (5.7, 50'): Easy 5.7 climbing past three bolts to the top. Belay with a gear anchor that takes 2-4" cams in a crack under a huge boulder on your left. This is the same belay at which Absinthe of Mallet ends.

Descent: walk off from the summit.

A topo including this climb can be downloaded by clicking this link:

toofasttopos.com/free/absin…

Start just left of Peacemaker.

A full rack to 4" is needed primarily for the first pitch. Doubles of red, gold, and blue Camalot suggested. Gear is used throughout the remainder of the climb, but not to the same extent.