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Shadow Play

5.10d, Trad, 50 ft (15 m),  Avg: 2.5 from 4 votes
FA: F.A. J. Davis,Haake (prep assist Paunas, Sprecher)
Oregon > Central Oregon > Cougar Buttress > Main Area

Description

Work your way onto the rock off of the steep scree hill (crux), clip the first bolt and work your way up and left into a funky overhanging lieback. Get some gear in the crack here and work your way up through it (actual crux). After getting established on the face above, be careful of loose rock and not hitting your belayer with it. Pulled a 20 lb chunk off just after the crux the other day (6/18). Climb past a few more bolts and a short finger crack to a 2 bolt anchor above some more loose rocks.

Worth doing at least once! Will be better once it's a little cleaner.

Location

On the far left side of the main buttress, from the approach trail: walk left for a couple minutes, pass two giant Ponderosa pines in a gully and cut uphill here. Locate the route "Sharpen Your Teeth" (listed just to the left of this one), and slog 15' up steep loose scree into the little canyon directly up and to the right of it. Currently this is the only route in there that starts on bolts.

Protection

A few bolts, and a few finger to hand sized crack widgets. 2 Bolt rap anchor

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

First bolt is just out of view to the right of the picture. Layback crux through the overlap is visible in the foreground with a climber at the anchor.
[Hide Photo] First bolt is just out of view to the right of the picture. Layback crux through the overlap is visible in the foreground with a climber at the anchor.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Dave McRae
Bend, OR
  5.10d
[Hide Comment] I believe the intended route actually goes up the crack to the left of the line in the picture, and straight above the bolts. It's clean, solid, and more sustained than the yellow line in the pictured variation. The original grade of 5.10d feels about right. Oct 26, 2022