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Benediction

5.5 R, Trad, 400 ft (121 m), 5 pitches,  Avg: 2 from 1 vote
FA: 2012
New York > Adirondacks > G: Indian Lake… > Crane Mountain > Belleview > Bella Vista Slab

Description

A decent route in its own right and, if Bella Vista's initial pitch is slick, a good way to connect to it.

P1: Climb up and left into the open book/left-facing corner. Go up this to the overlap, continuing through this and up the unprotected but easy slab to the right of two short cracks on the short steep slab right of the headwall (crossing Bella Vista, which goes up the left crack). Climb up to the same belay ledge as P2 of Bella Vista.
P2: Climb up the face just left of the upper spruce tree (about 12' right of Bella Vista's crux) onto easy, unprotected slab. Belay at the spruce tree anchor left of the slab. You can combine this pitch with the next one.
P3: Step back out right onto the slab and climb up the ridge 100' to a point where you can step left into the tree island and belay at an oak tree (same as P4 Bella Vista.
P4: Step back out right and climb unprotected slab to the uppermost rappel anchor.
P5: Step right around the rappel anchor tree island and continue up the slab to its top.

Location

Find the Bella Vista slab, then walk left and up to a sloping ledge system that puts you about 100' above the start of BV. On the right end of this ledge, look for an open book/left-facing corner.

Protection

Cams to #3 C4. C3s help in some of the runout spots. Plenty of runners.