A Servant To Liberty

A Servant To Liberty climbs the first 3 pitches of Freedom or Death (5.10, 5.11, 5.11) but steps right to join Thin Red Line just before the 3rd pitch anchor. It would also be possible to just climb the first 4 pitches of TRL but the nature of the climbing on FOD is more in line with the rest of the climbing on ASTL.

Pitch 4 (5.12-) starts up easy terrain until reaching the right leaning overlap that was originally aided on TRL. Tricky locks and smeary feet at first, but it eases off after not to long. The gear can be a little tricky on this pitch. Finish at the original belay where the pendulum is on TRL. Belay off the single older SMC bolt to the left with a backup to the better anchor to the right. Doing this keeps your feet on a small ledge.

Pitch 5 (5.12-) steps down off of the narrow foot rail and traverses far to the left until gaining a short layback flake. Clip a bolt after a bit and work up and left to another short flake placing two small cams here to protect a somewhat difficult mantle. Clip another bolt and step to the right. This is the 5.12- crux. Continue up another layback flake placing a weird but good #2 Cam. Climb past the two bolt ring anchor that was placed during an aid attempt. Stem up and over the roof and then step right around the arete for a couple moves before the final move back left towards the anchor. It is also possible to stay in the corner but it is a bit more difficult.

Pitch 6 (5.12) starts in the shallow corner but also steps right around the arete on some classic rounded arete climbing. Make a big move back left at the dike continuing very far left on the big hand rail. Climb up positive face holds and step right when possible. Few medium to big finger size pieces to finish it off. A #2 Cam is nice to have for that last piece as a directional for the 2nd. This pitch ends on a nice ledge with the anchor being 25ft to the right. This anchor is equal height to pitch 7 of TRL and it would be possible to do a short easy pitch to that anchor

Pitch 7 (5.12+) is the mega slab pitch that will make most peoples toes cry. This pitch is 165ft with 14 bolts and 4 cruxy moves. It is best to yard up on the anchor to clip the first bolt. The first move can be a bit tricky to figure out but there are a few options that work. A .75 cam is needed after the 2nd bolt. It is best to use long slings starting with the 3rd bolt. Continue up the slab past a couple crux moves and eventually to an amazing tiny bonsai tree growing in a pocket. Be very careful to not hurt the tree. Make one more crux move back to the right and easier terrain. There is a high bolt up and left that can be clipped with a double length runner that provides a good directional for the 2nd, back clean the previous bolt if this is done.

Pitch 8 (5.13-) starts off easy enough but turns pretty vicious after moving out right. The crux slab sequence feels and looks impossible until all the holds are chalked and ticked. Be ready to grab a couple razor blades with your right hand and make some funky foot moves. It is pretty sustained for a few bolts (which can be A0’d) but eventually the holds get better and the climbing becomes 5.10-ish The crux moves might feel closer to 13c without beta or chalk. Unfortunately the rock quality deteriorates a bit on this pitch but the climbing isn’t hard when this happens.

Pitch 9 (5.10) is way more fun than anticipated. Mostly varied 5.10 climbing on decent rock. Be careful with rope drag towards the end of the pitch. A #3 Cam is placed after the last bolt in the left facing corner. A couple small cams are also nice for the final traverse around the chossy arete.

Pitch 10 (5.10) steps right off the belay into a short crack. Be mindful of a couple loose blocks after the short crack. Walk the ledge to the right and climb up underneath the big flair. It is possible to climb up into the flair or climb the face to the left. Mellow terrain leads to one bolt out left to avoid a big kitty litter block.

Pitch 11 (5.10+) climbs a low angle left facing corner that looks challenging from the belay but isn’t actually that bad. Lots of finger sized pieces and nuts on this section. After the finger crack section look for a bolt out to the left. After clipping this, wander down and around to lower angle terrain. Eventually it turns to low 5th class. Aim for some tree and blocks up and right. There is a fixed 3 nut anchor just above the trees.

It is possible to ramble to the top from here but best to stay roped up for a bit longer. it is also possible to rappel the route using two ropes.

** Note, this route was previously named A Slave to Liberty