Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

Plane Crash

5.10a/b, Sport, 60 ft (18 m),  Avg: 3 from 54 votes
FA: Todd Offenbacher, Terry Lilienfield
California > Lake Tahoe > S Shore > Luther Spires > Luther Spires - Main…

Description

Juggy but powerful moves. Crux somewhere around the 4th or 5th bolt

Some cool backstory on this route! Plane Crash and Fire Starter were named after a plane crashed across HWY 89 which started a week long wild fire. The crash itself and subsequent fire were witnessed by the FAs as these routes were being set.

Location

Take the trail left once you reach the spires. Scramble up and left over boulders and talus past the 5.10 toprope on the left (two bolt anchor). Fire Starter and Plane Crash are the two bolted face climbs opposite of a shallow dihedral at the top of the talus. Both routes share a two-bolt anchor.

By the descriptions and grade I think the supertopo may have mislabeled this and Fire Starter (swapped positions in the topo).

Protection

7 Bolts

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

finish strong
[Hide Photo] finish strong
Plane Crash & Fire Starter<br>
<br>
Photo credit<br>
Keith Wickstrom
[Hide Photo] Plane Crash & Fire Starter Photo credit Keith Wickstrom
plane crash and firestarter
[Hide Photo] plane crash and firestarter
Slab-B (yellow), Fire Starter (red), and Plane Crash (blue) as viewed from the trail from Jane Spy
[Hide Photo] Slab-B (yellow), Fire Starter (red), and Plane Crash (blue) as viewed from the trail from Jane Spy
Plane Crash with draws and TR setup
[Hide Photo] Plane Crash with draws and TR setup

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Brian Floyd
Davis, California
[Hide Comment] Plane Crash, which I believe is the route on the right of the dihedral, is an awesome climb with the crux between the 4th and 5th bolt as you go over a small roof. Excellent rock and just enough variety to make the whole climb fun! Sep 2, 2019
Will WB
Sacramento, CA
  5.10a
[Hide Comment] This climb has a fantastic flow to it on great, incut crimps until a slightly different style crux. Finish out on lower grade terrain with cool, weird holds and be sad it's over when you get to the top. Listed at 10b in the guidebook, those getting into the 5.10s shouldn't be scared off by this one. Lots of fun on this one. Aug 26, 2022