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Early Bird

5.12b, Trad, 100 ft (30 m),  Avg: 3.3 from 18 votes
FA: Clay Watson, Mike Perkins, 2010
Utah > Wasatch Range > Central Wasatch > Little Cottonwo… > Early Bird
Warning Access Issue: Gate Buttress Area Recreational Lease: Climbs on Church Buttress above vault remain closed DetailsDrop down

Description

Start in twin cracks in a dihedral at the bottom of the arete, climbing three or four fun sequences interspersed with huge rests. Each sequence gets a bit harder than the last. As you get about 2/3 of the way up, there is a fun transition into a seam and crack system to the right, setting up for the final boulder problem.

**The fall at the top is scary but safe, as long as you do not let yourself get sucked too far right at the top. We never went much farther right than the chickehnead, fearing a pendulum back into the corner. If you are concerned about this, it's a great idea to TR or even headpoint it to figure it out. 

Location

The crack systems just right of the big arete splitting the wall.

Anchor access to TR:
1. Climb up to the anchor of Boing, then drop down to EB anchor. 2. Climb BedHead and traversing L to the anchor. or 3. Coming in from the top from the ridge. Sometimes there is a fixed line on a tree to rap down to the Boing anchor and then to EB.

Protection

I used medium nuts, a blue tcu or .3 or .4? camalot (save it for your last piece), 2 yellow-tcu-sized pieces, one set of cams up to #4 camalot.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Jonathan catching a break on top of the twin hand cracks before getting into the business part of Early Bird
[Hide Photo] Jonathan catching a break on top of the twin hand cracks before getting into the business part of Early Bird
You're in LCC: the mandatory slopper mantle guards the top.
[Hide Photo] You're in LCC: the mandatory slopper mantle guards the top.
The strange but bomber #4 cam placement down low.  A new #4 works too. Maybe a #5?  Its the only way we felt safe for getting through the lower cracks without fixed gear. Crazy we had to climb before work back then.
[Hide Photo] The strange but bomber #4 cam placement down low. A new #4 works too. Maybe a #5? Its the only way we felt safe for getting through the lower cracks without fixed gear. Crazy we had to climb befo…
Greg getting into the steep and slanting upper crack of Early Bird
[Hide Photo] Greg getting into the steep and slanting upper crack of Early Bird
From the FA of Boing, showing the the old-style #4 placement. We recently went back and found that a new #4 keys in nicely. An old dark blue Metolius (#10) keys in even better. A new #5 is tricky to key in but works just above that spot in the photo.
[Hide Photo] From the FA of Boing, showing the the old-style #4 placement. We recently went back and found that a new #4 keys in nicely. An old dark blue Metolius (#10) keys in even better. A new #5 is tricky t…

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

tenesmus
  5.12a/b
[Hide Comment] I'm pretty sure this hasn't had a second ascent. I'd love to know what others think. Personally, the moves on this are really fun and the last boulder problem is kick ass. The blue tcu holds long whippers from large climbers so trust me when I say the gear is good. Just be sure the large lobes are on the left. Oct 29, 2010
[Hide Comment] 4 stars divided by 2 is probably more realistic eh? :) Oct 29, 2010
tenesmus
  5.12a/b
[Hide Comment] Oh Brad.
Brad. Brad. Brad. Oct 30, 2010
vacano
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] Fun & diverse climbing with rests to a "for real" good bouldery finish. Sep 26, 2011
Ben Folsom
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] Reachy... Nov 17, 2011
drewford
Wasatch Back, UT
 
[Hide Comment] I added a bolt to the hard-to-gear start (with Clay's blessing and belay). This wasn't done for you the hard-core Early Bird crusher. You'd laugh your way past that funky, walking #4 cam. But for the budding leader on Boing-Oing (an excellent route which shares the same start) the gear at the 10d starting crux is suspect. Nov 23, 2024