Crouching Tiger

Pasted from Brette's blog

Crouching Tiger 12b, 500m

Crouching Tiger climbs a central line up the Chinese Puzzle Wall.  It is named for its prominent orange stripped corner on pitch 4. Marc-André and I planned on climbing this line together after we established the first ascent of the wall via Hidden Dragon 12c, in 2016.  Caro North, Chris Kalman and I, completed Crouching Tiger, 12b+, 500m, 2018.  Its eight pitches link into the the upper three pitches of Hidden Dragon.

1. Start up the central crack system. Pass through blocky roofs (4ft dagger flake and loose blocks that will kill you and your belayer!!) to gain a ledge stance. Belay by slinging a large block. 11a (r/x in current state), 30m 

2. A tricky boulder problem leads into a left-facing corner.  Beware as the left wall becomes hollow, place thin gear in a seam around the arête to avoid the flake.  Continue up the corner to a small rooflet and pull around the arête to a bolted belay. 11a, 20m 

3. Climb the technical stemming corner past two bolts.  Follow the crack that splits the wall on the right.  Traverse out the roof to the right then follow the crack to a bolted belay at a stance. 12a/b, 30m

4. The Tiger Stripe. From the belay move right up cracks then traverse leftward to reach the left-facing corner with the orange stripe. Belay in the chasm with one bolt plus gear.   11a, 30m

5. Follow the wide corner as it narrows down to hand size through a series of roofs.   Belay at the ledge (One bolt, plus gear). 11b, 30m

6. Start up the chimney passing a tree on the left.  Climb an overhanging crack through blocky terrain.  Traverse rightward and build a gear belay below the slab.  10c, 40m

7. A few moves up gravely rock lead into a left-facing corner.  Climb the relentlessly flared corner past three bolts, placing thin gear intermittently.  Bolted belay.  12b, 25m 

8. Climb up the crack. At easier ground clip a bolt on the left and make a few moves across a slab to reach a steep right-facing corner. Belay at the ledge (one bolt and #2) 12a, 30m

Pitches 9- 11:

9. Climb up the wide cracks at 5.9 to reach a crux boulder problem (reach dependent).  Traverse left on thin crack and technical gear, 11b, 40m.
10. 5th class tree climbing following the line of least resistance, 35m. 
11. Easy but unprotected slab to a 5.11- boulder roof traverse. Belay at Tree. 

Wires
Double rack Black totem - #3.
Triple .75-2
Single 4
Optional 5