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The Strike

5.12b, Sport, 70 ft (21 m),  Avg: 3 from 37 votes
FA: RMWright, Summer 2012
Colorado > Dumont vicinity > Mill Creek Block

Description

Natural History teaches that when a big cat makes a kill it is often via a powerful, accurate, focused strike to back of the neck, severing the cervical spinal cord. This seems about right for the crux sequence on The Strike.

The Strike begins on the left overhang. Power up to a rail system and swim out right to the arete. The first crux comes in standing up at clip four. Moving past clip five is the technical crux and entails a number of tricky and powerful moves. The crux ends when you stand above clip six. Bolts above guide the rope away from snags on the ledge.

Location

This is the left of three routes on the block.

Protection

Eight draws and something for the double bolt anchor at the top.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

After the 5.11 rail about to do the first hard/awkward move to get established on the arete.
[Hide Photo] After the 5.11 rail about to do the first hard/awkward move to get established on the arete.
The Strike, draws in place. Line continues above the last visible draw for 30 more feet.<br> <br>
[Hide Photo] The Strike, draws in place. Line continues above the last visible draw for 30 more feet.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Richard M. Wright
Lakewood, CO
  5.12
[Hide Comment] This route has a number of cool features that stack up to a really good route. Moving past clip five entails a powerful slap off a small but positive crimp. It's probably fair to call the inverted sloper that one slaps for "disappointing". Catching it is a long way from the end of the difficulties, which entail several more similar slaps to rounded holds and a few tricky transitions in body position. Jul 25, 2012
Richard M. Wright
Lakewood, CO
  5.12
[Hide Comment] 08/03/2012: after Anna and I came up for clean RP burn, I'm tempted to rename this route "Black Nemesis" for the 12 hard inches that just evicted me. I thought it was fully dialed but got spanked at the inverted slap. Still, really cool climbing with a very technical crux. Aug 4, 2012
Harald Harb
Dumont
  5.12a/b
[Hide Comment] One of the best right moving rails in any climb. It is 3 bolts long. The climb totally changes once you pull the arete. It is very thin and power moves to get the next solid catch overhead. Oct 28, 2013
evan h
Longmont, CO
  5.12a/b
[Hide Comment] I added a two bolt anchor for a new line (Mufasa) that begins directly to the left (and shares the first bolt) of The Strike. This anchor can now be used to finish The Strike and avoid the low 5th class scramble to the upper chains. Richard's original bolts are still usable if you want to take the glory lap to the top. Apr 4, 2016
evan h
Longmont, CO
  5.12a/b
[Hide Comment] This route has some good climbing, save for a couple of awkward sections. As far as the grade, it's harder than El Gato and Mufasa, but probably not by much. Jul 30, 2016
Algin Amores
 
[Hide Comment] I did the 2 bolt roof, direct start to The Strike. Anyone know the name/proposed grade? It was super cool. Thanks! Sep 12, 2021
John RB
Boulder, CO
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] Added Mussy hooks to the low anchor (also shared with Mufasa) today to ease lowering and increase safety.

Thanks to the ASCA for providing the hooks. Please support them at safeclimbing.org (even a small donation makes a huge difference!). Jun 17, 2022
John RB
Boulder, CO
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] Warning: beta for the climb follows:

Start at Mufasa, climbing up to the rail. A couple of moves right on jugs get you to the 2nd bolt, then you make a span way right to a jug in a round dish and another jug further right. A long reach to a mail slot gets you to the 4th bolt. Standing up here is the first crux; it's about 11+ to here. The climb entirely changes character at this point and becomes a techy vert crimp/slope fest for 3 bolts. There's a good sloper way out left and probably the only reasonable rest before the top. Right hand sidepulls and left hand sloper/pinches help you work your feet up to the "slap" Richard talked about in his comment. This sequence is probably the hardest part of the route, but after your left hand is in the gaston crimp, there's more hard techy crimping above. Once you stand on the Mufasa ramp, it's over. Jun 17, 2022
Isaac Palatt
Denver, CO
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] I flashed/onsighted this route, and I am so damn confused by Richard’s descriptions of the difficulties. I don’t know if I did any inverted sloper slap. I can’t imagine what the “black nemesis” would be.… It’s just kind of a juggy rail that you traverse until climbing a technical 12b (?) face (doesn’t climb like an arete). All of this is to say, GREAT ROUTE, but Richard, your descriptions are confusing AF. Nov 10, 2023