Type: Trad, Alpine, 1000 ft (303 m), 6 pitches, Grade IV
FA: C. Brazeau and Q.Brett
Page Views: 1,434 total · 16/month
Shared By: Q B on Aug 26, 2016
Admins: Mark Roberts, Mauricio Herrera Cuadra, Kate Lynn, Braden Batsford

You & This Route


1 Opinions
Your To-Do List: Add To-Do ·
Your Star Rating:
Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty Rating:
-none- Change
Your Ticks:Add New Tick
-none-
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.
Warning Access Issue: SNOWPATCH SPIRE ROCKFALL DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

This entry pitch is not new, done by Topher Donahue and Patience Gribble, Tower Arête, 5.11 (although a direct line looks possible if I remember, another thin seam to the left).
Pitch 2 (5.8) a long pitch approaches the dihedral on left via wandery ledges, blocks, and flowers. Stop beneath a gleaming right-facing corner, unfortunately slammed shut.
Pitch 3 (5.12R) Look slightly right from below the blank corner. Climb over 15 feet reaching an overlap with some flakey holds, you are standing on a pillar. It is a bit spicy but provides the just-good-enough edge or two, finishing with a granite hueco)!
Pitch 4 (5.10) heads up a beautiful left-facing, widening hand crack that parallels the original dihedral system. Good climbing, belay at a descent stance.
Pitch 5 (5.11) a longer pitch climbing the next wide hands and fists splitter, a burly and radical pitch, with a thoughtful finish stepping left to a descent stance back in the dihedral system.
Pitch 6 (5.11-) was mine, and I must admit: I wanted out. I headed up a short ways attempting to complete the direct line but the flaring crack and kitty litter was too intimidating. I veered sharp right, foot-traversing, then climbing up a sketchy layback flake. Mind the ridiculous rope drag, step hard right again and up onto moderate terrain. Gain the ridge and moderate blocks to the summit of Snowpatch.

publications.americanalpine…

Location Suggest change

West Face of Snowpatch Spire.

Protection Suggest change

Doubles in fingers to #4 cams. Small wires nice for the first pitch.

Photos

0 Comments