Plus Altra

A surprisingly fun route for its grade, Plus Altra adventures up the large, conspicuous gully that runs up the majority of the face of the Narrow Gauge Slabs. Work your way up the route using a combination of crack climbing, stemming, and features along the face. Some vertical sections and bulges reveal trickier moves, but ample opportunities for protection make this route approachable for newer trad climbers.

I gave this route its name, because I forgot my climbing shoes when I went for the FA attempt. Instead, I climbed it in my Altra sneakers. At the time, I was also watching My Hero Academia, which features the catch phrase, "Plus Ultra!"

Starting Options

There are two options to start this route:

• take the access trail up a ledge or two, and walk over to a tree that stands near the crack system that runs down the climber's left side of the main gully, using the same ground anchor as Cielito Lindo; or
• from the belay platform at the base area, using the crack system that runs down the climber's right side of the main gully down to the base area.

Finishing Options

There are two options to finish on bolted anchors:

• on the climber's left, at the top of the second pitch of Cielito Lindo; or
• on the climber's right, at the top of the second pitch of Con Cuidado y Comunidad (top-out version).

Rappel down in two pitches, or finish the last pitch of either of the connecting climbs to walk off the access trail on the climber's left.

This was cleaned by Ali Arfeen, Chris C, Josh, and Alan Prehmus and mentored by Josh.

This is the large gully that's immediately visible as you enter the base area.

A single rack of cams up to #3 should be enough for experienced leaders. Doubles from #0.75 - #3 may be helpful for newer leaders.

There are bolted anchors with rap rings at the top.

Important note: you cannot rappel this route in one pitch with one rope. Rappel in two pitches or finish climbing to the top on a connecting route to walk off the access trail on the climber's left.