All Locations > California > Joshua Tree NP > Lost Horse Area > Freeway Wall > Lower Freeway Wall

Smooth as Silk

Name: Smooth as Silk
Rating: 2.5

5.8 YDS 5b French 16 Ewbanks VI- UIAA 15 ZA HVS 4c British

Routes in Lower Freeway Wall

L › R R › L A › Z

	Barney Rubble T 5.1 2 6 II 7 MD 2a
	Bouncing Rock T 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
	Falling Rock T 5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b
	False False Smooth as Silk T 5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
	False Smooth as Silk T 5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
	Rolling Rock T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a PG13
	Silkworm T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
	Silky Stones T 5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
	Smooth as Silk T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Start Trundling T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
	Stop Grumbling T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
	Stop Trundling T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Wilma Rubble T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

Type:	Trad, 80 ft (24 m)
FA:	John Bald & John Edgar, 1973
Page Views:	5,419 total · 21/month
Shared By:	Brian Reynolds on Feb 8, 2003
Admins:	Greg Opland, C Miller, Gunkswest, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes Page Updates (admin only)

You & This Route

118 Opinions

Your To-Do List: ·

Your Star Rating:
Rating

Your Difficulty Rating:
-none- Change

Your Ticks:Add New Tick

-none-

Explore this route in 3D

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Access Issue: Climbing Regulations/Seasonal Raptor Closures Details

The Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent's Compendium states that:
1. Vegetation is not allowed to be used as an anchor.
2. Only neutral or rock colored bolt hangers are allowed.

For a complete list of climbing rules and closures visit:
nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/…

Description

Smooth as Silk can be divided into two distinct sections. The lower section involves bouldery moves off the ground to a short hand traverse, before easing off into a lower angle slab. The upper section ascends a splitter finger crack up a very smooth, relatively low angle slab. A small scoop at the base of this second section complicates getting onto the slab and provides the crux of the route.

Location

Start at the dirt parking area on Lost Horse Road that is nearest to the Lower Freeway Wall. Scramble about 100 yards up through boulders to the base of the left end of the cliff. There is a flat area right at the base of the cliff. In the center of this flat area is an obvious chimney/gully (the start of Silky Stones). Just left of the chimney/gully is an appealing finger crack and flake that goes through a bulge. This crack and flake is the start of Smooth as Silk.

Protection

Nuts, TCUs and cams to a red Camalot with extra purple and green (finger sized) cams. Communal bolted rappel anchor on top for this route that can also be used for the next couple routes to the right.