Continue with onX Maps
Continue with Facebook
| Type: | Trad, Aid, 125 ft (38 m), 2 pitches |
| FA: | Trevor Bowman, Roy Suggett, Emily Reinsel 10/1/17 |
| Page Views: | 986 total · 12/month |
| Shared By: | Trevor Bowman on Nov 7, 2017 |
| Admins: | Andrew Gram, Nathan Fisher, Perin Blanchard, GRK, D C |
Your To-Do List:
Add To-Do ·
Your Star Rating:
Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Description
Of the several possible routes on this shapely tower, we felt this one offered the best option to minimize drilling and avoid nailing. It proved to be as we had hoped, and provided a fine outing with a mix of straightforward aid on soft rock and fun free climbing on the better upper band. The star rating was given relative to the greater Grand Staircase area; although fun, this certainly ain't no Castle Valley classic. However, for those accustomed to soft rock and who don't mind a little time in etriers, it is well worthwhile.
P1--Start by stick-clipping or with a shoulder stand (how it got drilled, with difficulty) to a drilled angle that unfortunately wouldn't hammer in to the eye, but is quite solidly seated in its hole. Reach left to the splitter crack system, which starts thin; a couple decent med/large stoppers can get you through the thinnest section without having to rely on tiny cams in the soft rock. Continue up undulating fingers/fat fingers until the crack pinches down to a seam. Transition right past another drilled angle, some gear placements in large hollow flakes (seem well attached) and a bolt into the better, brown rock layer and the hanging dihedral system that dominates the southwest face of the Pipes. A short section of stembox, with a fist crack on the left and a thin crack on the right leads past some blocks to a small stance and 2 bolt anchor. Most of the pitch takes finger-thin hand sized gear except the final stretch, in which everything from a #4 to .00 mastercam were used. 75', C2
P2-- Lower angled off-width with face features ends with a steeper OW bit to the top of a pillar. Proceed through a bugling section of thin hands that is relatively moderate thanks to chunky face features. Finish through the bizzare, cobble-studded conglomerate cap rock to the awesome summit. Ditch the wide cams down low, and otherwise only bring a couple #.75 and #1s and maybe a #.5 for this pitch. 50', 5.9
P1--Start by stick-clipping or with a shoulder stand (how it got drilled, with difficulty) to a drilled angle that unfortunately wouldn't hammer in to the eye, but is quite solidly seated in its hole. Reach left to the splitter crack system, which starts thin; a couple decent med/large stoppers can get you through the thinnest section without having to rely on tiny cams in the soft rock. Continue up undulating fingers/fat fingers until the crack pinches down to a seam. Transition right past another drilled angle, some gear placements in large hollow flakes (seem well attached) and a bolt into the better, brown rock layer and the hanging dihedral system that dominates the southwest face of the Pipes. A short section of stembox, with a fist crack on the left and a thin crack on the right leads past some blocks to a small stance and 2 bolt anchor. Most of the pitch takes finger-thin hand sized gear except the final stretch, in which everything from a #4 to .00 mastercam were used. 75', C2
P2-- Lower angled off-width with face features ends with a steeper OW bit to the top of a pillar. Proceed through a bugling section of thin hands that is relatively moderate thanks to chunky face features. Finish through the bizzare, cobble-studded conglomerate cap rock to the awesome summit. Ditch the wide cams down low, and otherwise only bring a couple #.75 and #1s and maybe a #.5 for this pitch. 50', 5.9
Location
The obvious hanging dihedral (left facing) on the southwest face. Look for a drilled angle about 10' up.
Protection
2 drilled angles, 1 bolt
a few med/large stoppers
(1X) gray through blue Mastercams or equivalent (four lobed pieces nice on the soft rock!)
(1X).3
(3X).4
(4X).5
(2X).75-#3
(1X)#4
(2X)#5,#6
All above units listed in BD C4 sizes.
With a single 70m rope you can rap from the summit anchors and hit the ground just barely with rope stretch. If using a 60m rope, use the anchors atop P1. Bring replacement tat for the top anchors.
a few med/large stoppers
(1X) gray through blue Mastercams or equivalent (four lobed pieces nice on the soft rock!)
(1X).3
(3X).4
(4X).5
(2X).75-#3
(1X)#4
(2X)#5,#6
All above units listed in BD C4 sizes.
With a single 70m rope you can rap from the summit anchors and hit the ground just barely with rope stretch. If using a 60m rope, use the anchors atop P1. Bring replacement tat for the top anchors.
Photos
4 Comments