Invisible Crowns

This an alternate finish to Touch Gold.

Unlike most routes in the area, the crux of Invisible Crowns follows a crack system up a continuously steep headwall - so steep in fact that, though Halidome faces due south, the rock on the crux pitch stays fully shaded for all but a few hours in the evening.

This is a great climb on its own but is best done after finishing Touch Gold and rapping to its P2 anchors. This gets you the most bang for your buck, and your fingers will be warm for the mono crux of Invisible Crowns.

P1 5.11c, 100ft, 18 bolts, 3 bolt anchor
This is the first pitch of Touch Gold.

P2 5.6, 110ft, 13 bolts, cam, 2 bolt anchor
Climb the second pitch of Touch Gold, but after reaching the three bolt anchor, continue right and up the clean exposed slab. It is best to extend bolts 4-9 as you traverse the easy terrain. Stay low at the last bolt to avoid poor rock. Bring a single #1.

P3 5.12c, 70ft, 6 bolts, cams/nuts, 2 bolt anchor with steel draws
Extend the first two bolts before climbing past a third (5.10+) to a ledge below a short slab. Protect the easy slab with small/medium-sized nuts before reaching the base of the overhang. From here, it’s mostly big moves to big holds and hand jams except for the distinct crux protected by the final bolt. Find the right spot in the incredibly precise, left hand, mono crux. The last half of the steep headwall is protected by tricky, but bomber, placements. I found it easiest to place gear behind me after I was done using jams. While I only used a #1, 0.5, and #1, an onsight rack may look more like 0.3-0.75 and two #1s.

12 quickdraws
6 alpine draws
Singles 0.3-0.75
Double #1
Nuts
60m rope

Lower from steel carabiners above the crux pitch. Then, do a 30m rap to a ledge. Traverse the ledge to rappeler's left for the next anchor. Rap about 12m down and to the right to a black ledge in an obtuse corner. Do a final 20m rap to the Cat Walk.