Marriage of Convenience

An elegant changing corner system up a clean panel. The route character changes dramatically as the corner changes, providing a distinct rift between the two incongruous parts although they are bound together in the same system. While the moderate upper corner offers great climbing still, it feels a bit anti-climactic after the awesome, burly start. However, if you are the type of climber who thrives on distinct cruxes and withers under sustained endurance route pressure, this should be high on your list! A heads up to any fat-fingered folk out there that the crux section features very tipsy locks that certainly suit small fingers much better. It will almost certainly feel a good bit harder without fairly slender digits. 

Stick clip handy for the first bolt, as the landing would be terrible. A bit of face and slightly crunchy tight handcrack leads to the clean, overhanging, right-facing dihedral. Breathe deep and pay attention to sequences and potential stemming onto micro-foot chips as you layback your way up the tips pods and hope you hang in there until the crack opens up to some more solid fingerlocks. This section was bolted, as the crack between the pods is very thin and has a gritty surface inside the crack making gear somewhat sketchy; a gear ripping fall could lead to a very bad landing. From the good locks, sink in some good tips gear and make a couple more moves into a pod with hands in the back. As the corner changes here to left-facing, the angle changes from overhung to slightly less than vertical and you can breathe easy with the difficulties dispatched. Continue up the fun moderate (5.9) corner with a medley of fingerlocks, handjams, and faceholds to a shelf and the anchor. This upper corner was scrubbed hard, but still holds some of the tenacious high-alpine perma-lichen that doesn't want to part from the stone.