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The Gendarme

5.11+ R, Trad, 400 ft (121 m), 3 pitches,  Avg: 1 from 2 votes
FA: FA: George Lowe and Ted Wilson 1970. FFA: Mark Evans, 2017
Utah > Wasatch Range > Central Wasatch > Bells Canyon > Middle Bell Tower
Warning Access Issue: Private Property now at the entrance to Bells Canyon. DetailsDrop down

Description

An old climb that's likely the manufacturing facility for choss in the Wasatch. Tip toeing around loose blocks, and a cool head may very well be more valuable than specialized cams on this route.

But really why are you drawn to this route? Likely you're gaping at the massive roof of pitch 2 aren't you? Maybe it's that splitter wide crack of pitch 3. Or maybe you thought that approach pitch would be cake. Either way you've been sucked in to the vortex of The Gendarme.

Pitch 1) Climb a myriad of cracks up and left at the base of the SW corner of Middle Bell. Aiming for a ledge system slightly left of the prominent roof. Belay off cams and a bush. 5.9R

Pitch 2) The real meal deal. Climb up and right off the belay placing a few cams before you find a bolt protecting a tricky slab traverse to gain the base of the crack leading to the roof. Once to the roof there's only way thing to do. You'll be CUTTING LOOSE at the lip on your onsight attempt damn near guaranteed. This pitch actually has decent rock, and sports the steepest perfect hand crack I've ever come across in the Wasatch. Belay at 2 bolts. 5.11

Pitch 3) Pull through a bush or two to gain the "bushless" section of the wide crack. Heel-toe, arm bar, chicken wing, and thrutch your way up this gloriously long wide crack pushing your lone #6 along for the journey. Belay from a bush on top of the gendarme itself. 5.8

Rappel from the top belay bush to a stainless steel Smoot anchor on his new 5.11 face climb to the right of "Easy Way Up". 2 double rope raps will get you down.

Unsure of if this has been freed in the past. Mark Evans freed the crux onsight 11/26/2017.

Location

Furthest left route on Middle Bell. Look for the west facing crack system on the gendarme that splits the breaking wave shaped roof.

Protection

Singles to #6. Doubles fingers through hands. Medium nuts. 2 ropes.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Looks left side of the MB tower. Photo: Ben Folsom
[Hide Photo] Looks left side of the MB tower. Photo: Ben Folsom
The Gendarme as seen from the west bell
[Hide Photo] The Gendarme as seen from the west bell
Mark topping out the 3rd pitch.
[Hide Photo] Mark topping out the 3rd pitch.
Looking up pitch 1. Photo: Mark Evans
[Hide Photo] Looking up pitch 1. Photo: Mark Evans

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

[Hide Comment] Greg, thanks for posting up, I wrote about this in a short essay "For whom the Bells Toll" in the Granite Guide. It sounds like we climbed and belayed more directly under the roof. To my knowledge, this is the first free ascent...great job! Dec 3, 2017
Greg Gavin
SLC, UT
  5.11+
[Hide Comment] Brian we saw a few pin scars out to the right of our line on what we call pitch 1, and under the roof itself. Climbing further right on pitch 1 looks like a viable option connecting flared crack systems, and certainly could be a more solid experience than my line. However it appeared to requiring some bolts and/or pins which we lacked on the day of our ascent. Thanks for the history in the Granite Guide! Dec 4, 2017