Crystal Wall Route

A superb face climb on almost perfect granite that follows subtle features of the rock. Many will climb to the first anchor (double-rings) and rap off, although you can continue (tend to the right) on fun and easy runout climbing past one bolt to a double bolt belay station and then on to the top. It requires two ropes to rap off the first pitch. Note that it is easy to miss the last bolt before the first belay - its out right seemingly a little off route. If you want the same experience as the first ascensionists who were tired from hand drilling, don’t use the belay station and instead lay down flat on the upper pitch for more friction and belay from there.

To find the route, walk along the base trail until you see a blank, white granite wall that you have to climb up to reach. It is just past the large pinnacle leaning on the wall that has two bolts on it (Crystal Blue Persuasion). The climb to the bench where the climb starts is a low fifth class scramble.

The granite near the ground (perhaps where snow piles up) is a little looser than the granite just 20 feet up on the dome. Since this climb starts up high, the granite can only be described as immaculate, the whole way. Super fun.

On the topo image found under "Crystal Wall Area", this is climb number 2.

Typically all bolts. There is a tiny roof/flake between bolts two and three were you can optionally put a 1/4" to 1/2" cam.

This was done originally in the 1980's and no bolts were added - so this is a little "old school" and bold. It is not way runout, but there may be some sense of relief as you reach each bolt.