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Basic Needs

5.10, Trad, 160 ft (48 m),  Avg: 3.5 from 2 votes
FA: Andy Fitz, Ed Mosshart (2017)
Washington > South-Central &… > Tieton River > N Fork Cliff

Description

A Tieton classic. Stem past two bolts, a TCU placement, and a third bolt to a pinch feature below a small roof. Power past three more bolts while straddling a small arête (5.10, crux), using a crack-like sidepull on the left and sloping features on the right. After placing a #1 BD cam in a short hand crack, pass three more bolts with fun, interesting climbing on cool features. Make a somewhat committing move to the base of a hanging crack, turn a 5.10 bulge (small cams), and follow a long, straight-in hand crack to the top (5.9).

Protection

8 bolts + gear.
Lower route (shared start with Medicine): TCU or equivalent between bolts 2 and 3; #1 BD cam after bolt 6.
Upper crack: TCUs/small cams for bulge; multiple hand crack-sized cams.

Ends at shared anchor bolts with Medicine. Scramble up and left to top out (belay recommended), or make two rappels to the ground using the North Star anchors.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Looking down at the start of the upper crack
[Hide Photo] Looking down at the start of the upper crack
Finishing crack
[Hide Photo] Finishing crack
Route follows rope (photo taken during cleaning)
[Hide Photo] Route follows rope (photo taken during cleaning)

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Anna Climbs
  5.10+
[Hide Comment] Most of the first half of this climb is face climbing with very minimal crack features. Not my jam and I didn't enjoy it. The "long, straight-in handcrack" made up for it. Jul 18, 2020