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Grey Ghost

5.12b, Trad, 40 ft (12 m),  Avg: 3.3 from 20 votes
FA: FFA: Brendan Cathcart (?)
California > Eastern Sierra > Mammoth Lakes Area > Rock Creek > Patricia Bowl > First Cliff

Description

This is a short thin splitter crack with a crux right at the end. Can be lead safely on small gear or easily top roped from the anchors on Flying High (10b). We lowered to the ground with an 80 meter rope.

Location

Just 10 or so feet right of Flying High, starts on the same pedestal/ ledge. 

Protection

brass nuts useful. cams to .5 Camalot.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Left strand on Flying High, right strand on the route.
[Hide Photo] Left strand on Flying High, right strand on the route.
Nearing the top of Grey Ghost
[Hide Photo] Nearing the top of Grey Ghost

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Brendan Cathcart
Bishop, CA
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] I managed to free this line on top rope on my first attempt. I tried to lead it and fell at the final hard moves. I feel the top is the crux of the climb. Felt about 12b to me.I would be very surprised if this line had not been previously climbed. It is a very high quality and difficult finger crack.The unprotected face moves mentioned protect perfectly with small brass wires. Jul 20, 2020
A C
Bozeman, MT
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] Rad, thanks Brendan, nice work. I'll put it at 12b for now. Jul 21, 2020
Brendan Cathcart
Bishop, CA
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] Today, a friend and I both made ground up free ascents of this route all on gear. If nobody claims a previous ascent we may change the route description around, name and so on if you don't mind. We both though 5.12b was an honest grade. I would be very curious to hear if anyone has history about this climb, previous ascents or top ropes. I feel crack this has surely been climbed before. Aug 10, 2020
Andrew Pittman
Chicago, IL
  5.11c/d
[Hide Comment] Great short splitter. Id call it 11d, am a long boi.

I started from chalked up edges on the right with a small cam pre placed off the belay. 10d locks to a single move crux.
You can traverse right to the belay at 5.2 from the base of Columbine. Jul 24, 2022
Brendan Cathcart
Bishop, CA
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] Surely somebody's got some history of older ascents of this route. I cannot believe that it had not been climbed ground up until 2020. Anybody? Jun 28, 2025
T B
  5.12b
[Hide Comment] Sick route. Calling this 11+ is the silliest thing I’ve seen in a while. Jul 24, 2025