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Tattoo

5.11a, Sport, 40 ft (12 m),  Avg: 2.6 from 18 votes
FA: Dick Dower
Missouri > WM: Cliff Drive > Overhang

Description

For historical completeness, this was the first route done without bolts or top rope on the overhang. It goes directly through the stacked blocks in the center of the overhang. The crux is being able to stand on the blocks then moving up to the left side of the small cave above. A knee bar in the cave gives a great rest before the final moves. On the topo it is between routes 5 and 6.   I understand this route has now been bolted so I changed it to a sport route  (I haven't personally been back to see).    When I soloed it, there were no bolts anywhere on cliff drive.   Times have changed as has the slickness of the rock I hear.

Protection

You may be able to get gear behind the blocks but I didn't.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

A top rope ascent of Tatoo to show its location in relation to the blocks.  From here you go up and slightly right.
[Hide Photo] A top rope ascent of Tatoo to show its location in relation to the blocks. From here you go up and slightly right.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Zane Winter
Kansas City, MO
  5.11a
[Hide Comment] Not X-rated in its' current state. TMU, it was put up as a free solo. Jan 17, 2018
Richard Dower
Overland Park, KS
  5.11a
[Hide Comment] Ah yes, what you do when you are young. I actually didn't tell anyone about the ascent when it happened. But there was a guy I had never met that witnessed it. He and I were the only ones there that day. He told someone at Backwoods and they put it together that it was me and asked me about it. The witness had a big Aztec tattoo on his arm that was the inspiration for the name. Jan 17, 2018
Zane Winter
Kansas City, MO
  5.11a
[Hide Comment] That is... beyond hardcore. Jan 19, 2018
Brandon Wampler
Austin, TX
 
[Hide Comment] Tough on-site but beta makes this good going. Favorite route of the area so far Feb 18, 2024