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Alabama Hills Gang

5.10a, Sport, 145 ft (44 m),  Avg: 3.5 from 61 votes
FA: Michael Strassman, Jackie Carroll, Karen Michaelson, Keith Brueckner, Raleigh Collins
California > Eastern Sierra > Lone Pine Area > Alabama Hills > Alabama Hills N… > Western Wall Area > Loaf

Description

Of all the routes on 'The Loaf', Alabama Hills Gang has a flavor all its own. Unlike 'The Pangborn', AHG starts off with sustained thin slab work before reaching the nice patina plates that the rest of The Loaf is known for. So, lace them shoes up tight! Although the route is well protected (17 bolts, 160'), the page author personally feels that this route is one of the hardest routes on the wall.

OK, with that said, step off the flat boulder and onto the slab. Beware....there's a good sized gap between the slab and the boulder. A spotter would be wise to use before clipping the first bolt! After clipping the first bolt, continue up to the next two bolts taking advantage of the small foot divots and dime edges along the way. After passing the 3rd bolt, work your way up left then back right (5.10a) before clipping the 4th bolt. Pass 2 more bolts before reaching the left leaning ramp. Gain the ramp and head up right to gain a stance to clip bolt #7. Once there, step out left onto the face and enjoy the rest of the climb by working up good edges and incuts on patina plates. Pass 8 more bolts before coming to the 'physical' crux (5.9), by overcoming a subtle bulge near the top of the climb. Pass 2 more bolts and you're home free to one of the best view in the 'Bamas'! Rappel the route using TWO ropes (two bolt anchor with rings).

Location

Take Movie Road and head north for 2.5 miles before reaching a right turn in the road. Veer off to the left and follow the dirt road to its end. Park here and hike/scramble to the largest north facing formation (known as 'The Loaf')150 yards west. Some "3rd class tunneling" through large boulders is required to access The Loaf. Once at the wall, locate the route by scrambling to the right around a large boulder to the far right section of The Loaf. A line of bolts that goes up a near featureless slab is 'Alabama Hills Gang'.

Protection

- (2) 60m ropes

- (17) quickdraws

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Phil on Alabama Hills Gang
[Hide Photo] Phil on Alabama Hills Gang
Mike Fogarty, Alabama Hills Gang
[Hide Photo] Mike Fogarty, Alabama Hills Gang
The blue dots indicates the line for 'Alabama Hills Gang'.
[Hide Photo] The blue dots indicates the line for 'Alabama Hills Gang'.
On the Alabama Hills Gang.
[Hide Photo] On the Alabama Hills Gang.
Phil on Alabama Hills Gang
[Hide Photo] Phil on Alabama Hills Gang
Crux moves on Alabama Hills Gang
[Hide Photo] Crux moves on Alabama Hills Gang

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Diana
Sparks, NV
 
[Hide Comment] He he ... My intention was to go up Pangborn - as I climbed I kept thinking "Huh, this is pretty stout for a 9 ..." continued up further and started counting the anchors and realized I was on Alabama Hills Gang.

Reading the comments on the Pangborn route The first 35' feet of AHG is certainly tougher; clean slab with crimpy small holes for holds. I have to agree ... This is a great slabby, edgy route.

My partner had never climbed this high and the double rope rap really freaked her out. Otherwise we might have jumped on Pangborn for real.

This is my favorite climb here. May 15, 2010
[Hide Comment] I thought this was definitely stiff for 10a. The first few bolts had a few really thin moves. After that, it was 150 feet of awesome moderate climbing on great holds. Very Fun! Mar 29, 2011
susan peplow
Joshua Tree
  5.10a
[Hide Comment] Difficult technical climbing compared to it's neighbors on the loaf and in the Hills. The start is committing and definitely has your attention. Very glad we didn't start on the far right side of the wall (where AHG is) or it likely would have impacted my leading for the rest of the day.

Very doable, no epics or injuries and eases considerably mid-way. Seems much more difficult than the .9 rating in the BARC guidebook or compared to other routes on the same wall. I agree with other commentators and rate AHG the 10a and Pangborn the .9. YMMV.

This is a don't miss route! Avoid passing the knot or belaying on top. Secure the rope and rap - have your partner lead using the 2nd rope. That way everyone gets the fun! May 12, 2012
Russ Walling
Flaky Foont, WI. Redacted…
  5.10a
[Hide Comment] I did not think the low slabby crux was all that bad, maybe 5.9 tops. The upper crux passing the bulge seemed pretty hard and maybe even sequential. 10a for the whole shebang seems pretty fair, and this route is for sure the hardest on the wall when compared to its peers. May 13, 2012
BAd
  5.10a
[Hide Comment] Okay, my wife and I just did Pangborn and Alabama Hills Gang back-to-back. I'm 6'4", my wife 5'3". We both felt that AHG was more sustained but that the specific crux of Pangborn was more difficult than any individual move on AHG. So sustained vs. pointed crux, take yer pick. 10a for both seems fair. I really think a 5.9 leader is in for a little spice on Pangborn. I've now done many, many 10a's in the 'Bamas and find the crux on that route typical for the grade. You just get some fun, moderate cruising before and after.

Edit 4/21/17: Just repeated this. Yeah, 10a, and the most sustained on the wall, but there is an cruiser section midway. Like Russ, I found the start not too bad but the headwall attention-grabbing. Such a GREAT route. Git er done. Apr 1, 2013