Separate Ways

Shares the first 3 pitches with The Long Haul, then offers a more direct and slightly easier climb up the tallest part of Pulpit Rock. All pitches mixed. Gear sizes up to 2 inches. Small cams and extendable quickdraws are useful. All belays are rappel ring-bolts. The first four pitches can be climbed in two ropelengths.

P1: Start right off the trail at the toe of the cliff. Follow a thin crack (gear) through low-angle rolls, to the bolt-protected slab and a belay ledge. 5.5 ~28m

P2: Climb up the broken arête, into a niche. Pull out right (bolt), to a short corner and anchors. Belay on a small flat perch. 5.7 ~17m

P3: Pull onto the large ledge. Hand-traverse left into the obvious corner system. Rock fins and shallow corners lead up to a small ledge and anchors. 5.7 ~20m

P4: Step right and pull onto the rounded bulge, then up low-angle terrain to shallow left slanting corners and a grassy ledge with anchors. 5.6 ~20m

P5: Climb a low angle corner, past a small overlap, to a steeper section trending left, then up to a large sloping ledge. 5.9 ~20m

Note: the anchors here are shared - Last Days of the Honeymoon comes in from the right and climbs up the thin shallow corner/slab, then back out right, surmounting the whaled-size flake. Separate Ways takes the easier option: the now-clean shallow chimney.

P6: Layback the short chimney (enjoy a “one-bolt stand” with the neighbouring route) then step up to the overlap. Pull a quintessential Pulpit Rock highstep, then get established in the smooth right-facing corner protected by a bolt then creative nuts placements (there are 2 good slots for 1-inch-sized nuts placed sideways) or small cams. Step out left at the overhang. Pull up (excellent hidden gear) to some nice cracks and finish up a final steep boulder/step on the left (bolt). 5.9 ~ 25m

The route can be rappelled, but walking off is much more recommendable.

Start on the first 3 pitches of the Long Haul and then take the route to the right.

Gear to 2". Small cams useful.