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Putrid Rat

5.7, Trad, 130 ft (39 m),  Avg: 2.7 from 15 votes
FA: Ches Upham and Chris Wing, 5/28/12
California > Central Coast > Santa Barbara > Panic Town > Wall 3

Description

The long hand crack directly underneath the rap rings, just left of the U-notch at the top.

The name comes from a dead rat that made us hurry past some of the fun jams on the first ascent. Don't worry though, the namesake is now long gone.

Start underneath the crack (or bypass the start) and cruise to the notch at the top. Alternatively just keep climbing to the bolted anchor.

When rappelling, a 60 m rope will get you 20'+ from the ground. Either down climb or just swing left and take the 3rd class gully the last few feet. Just be mindful of where your ends are.

Protection

Standard rack (?)

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Putrid Rat is the crack directly underneath the rap rings, and just left of the U-notch at the top.
[Hide Photo] Putrid Rat is the crack directly underneath the rap rings, and just left of the U-notch at the top.
Patrick Callery nears the rappel anchors at the very top of Putrid Rat, at Panic Town.
[Hide Photo] Patrick Callery nears the rappel anchors at the very top of Putrid Rat, at Panic Town.
A (thankfully) less-than-putrid rat on SA...
[Hide Photo] A (thankfully) less-than-putrid rat on SA...
Ches Upham starting to wonder what that stink is on the FA of "Putrid Rat" (5/28/12)
[Hide Photo] Ches Upham starting to wonder what that stink is on the FA of "Putrid Rat" (5/28/12)

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Jeff Mahoney
Santa Barbara, CA
 
[Hide Comment] Hmmm, you may want to say "10' from the ground when you swing left." More like 20+ if you're on the fall line (and you still need to pull that rope). I have proof (and yeah, that's you, pal): mountainproject.com/v/10893… May 5, 2014
Chester Upham
Menlo Park
  5.7
[Hide Comment] Good call. It's fixed now. Some simple math would have been an easy double check too! (130' route puts you 30' from the ground without stretch)

I like splitting the difference and swinging left a bit and down climbing a bit. May 5, 2014
Matthew Fienup
Santa Rosa Valley, CA
 
[Hide Comment] This is a thoroughly enjoyable long, moderate crack and a great introduction to Panic Town.

We rappelled this route with a 70m rope and the ends just touched the ground. May 13, 2014
Andrew Spratt
Cache Valley, UT
 
[Hide Comment] Interestingly, the rock quality on the bottom and top third of this route are some of the best at Panic Town but the middle third is some of the worst. A large jug disintegrated on a buddy of mine and took a good 15-20 ft-er but thankfully was virtually unscathed. Jan 15, 2020