Type: Trad, 125 ft (38 m)
FA: JJ Schlick, Wade Forrest 2013
Page Views: 5,537 total · 44/month
Shared By: JJ Schlick on Nov 10, 2013
Admins: Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen

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Description Suggest change

Nyctophiliac is a Greek term meaning "friend of the dark" and is commonly thought of as a love of nighttime or darkness. For me, it’s steep black water streaks. This pitch is a jaw dropping, heart kicking, scream inducing, all natural gear line which climbs the center of yes, a brilliant black water streak.

This steep crack climb starts out with 50' of thoughtful "Overlookesque" trad daddy terrain with vertical fingers and small hands jamming. Several different block boulder problems (5.10) add some intrigue to the route.

A natural break after the intro offers a fantastic rest and the opportunity to eye the dark, overhanging finger crack which looms eerily above. 5.11- climbing off the break leads to a conspicuous orange jug and the entrance to the very definitive crux section. Despite the positive holds and finger locks(?) you'll use everything you've ever learned at Paradise Forks to gain the gravity amp jug which splits the crux into two sections. When things seem darkest before the jug, look around the arête to the right and be gifted a perfect sidepull rail.

Getting your feet onto the gravity amp jug is harder than you might first expect, and the moves here are wildly exposed. It's also the apex of the routes steepness. Fret not, however, because the gear on this line is as biter as it comes, and the air up there is clean. The original pitch stays in the lefthand black system and does not meld into Like a Shadow in the Night just right. I'd hate to see you cheat yourself of the full value experience.

The second known 5.12 to be established at Volunteer. This pitch conjured memories of Acid Test Crack at the Forks because of the crisp jamming, dramatic stances, bouldery cruxes, and it's just a striking line. If you're a connoisseur of 5.12 basalt trad climbing, you are not going to want to pass up this out of the way line.

The top of this line sits in a low spot of the rim and is a snow catch drainage, thus the black streaks. Due to wildlife and spring thaws, it will require some seasonal brushing. If you want to go for the well protected onsight, talk your partner into going down and giving it a brushdown with a small whisk brush. It’s an effort well rewarded.

Location Suggest change

About 20' to the climbers right of Phantasm, to the right of Jade Feather. Rap down the large drainage 125' to a perched boulder ledge belay. The belay takes #.3 through #.75 BD pieces. Nyctophiliac starts left of belay, on giant grey flake.

Protection Suggest change

I essentially used a triple set from #.3 through #1 camalots. Smaller, and larger units could find a home. Small/ medium wires. Whisk broom.

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