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Golden Shower

5.12a, Sport, 80 ft (24 m),  Avg: 3.9 from 63 votes
FA: Dustin Stephens, Chris Lamme
Kentucky > Red River Gorge > Pendergrass-Mur… > Solar Collector/Gold…

Description

A beautiful new route on the right side of Gold Coast that has everything from slab to face to a roof encounter with a a heel hook boulder. This route really has it all. Similar to the gift at long wall.

Protection

8 bolts plus anchor

Location

Uphill and about 100' right of the huge Golden Nugget boulder, one route right of Explanatory Gap

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Struggling with the technical start on Golden Shower
[Hide Photo] Struggling with the technical start on Golden Shower
Start of the roof sequence
[Hide Photo] Start of the roof sequence
Reachy bit in the final portion of the face
[Hide Photo] Reachy bit in the final portion of the face

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Caleb Mattson
Cincinnati, OH
  5.12a
[Hide Comment] It'd be hard to see this route and not want to climb it, the rock is absolutely stunning. The movement is just as aesthetic as the rock. Sep 23, 2019
Jason Albino
Salt Lake City, UT
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] This route is fully rad and a great techy break from the standard steep RRG pocket style!

It's only minorly marred by a little bit of dirty/brittle rock on top after the roof pull, and some rake-y rope lowering into a groove off the anchor. It's hard to keep your rope strands from rubbing against each other in that groove. Nov 4, 2019
Jim Lawyer

  5.12a
[Hide Comment] Stunning route, and totally different than the overhanging pocketpulling found elsewhere. Many no-hands rests, and a puzzling campus/heel-hook section through the roof. It's worth the walk down here to jump on this route. Nov 2, 2020
CrimpDaddy WesP
Chattanooga!!
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] This is in the top 3 5.12a's I've climbed...hard for the grade, so maybe top. Although the style is different, Swedish Fish and Twinkie are the others that are this cool...maybe Roshampo too. Honestly this is probably my favorite 12a of all time. Consider it 12b and its easily as good as Abiyoyo or Mercy, The Huff. Jun 1, 2021
Austin Lillywhite
Lexington, KY
 
[Hide Comment] My first 12a redpoint. Highly recommended if you like crimpy technical face climbing. Thoughtful and sequency throughout. Some may find the upper portion of the slabby face climbing (before the roof) to be somewhat reachy/height-dependent. For me, crux was pulling the roof. Don't miss the small undercling in the roof!

The bolts are really well-placed, especially at the roof, so don't hesitate to hop on it. As others have said, mentally engaging movement throughout on really aesthetic rock. Nov 20, 2023