The Great Zot Variation A.

To get to this variation, follow the first four pitches of the Great Zot as Rossiter describes it and not as it is described here (from the left angling hand crack continue straight left to a big tree in a gully instead of cutting back right to the tree belay below Zot Face). The variation is a different last pitch to this route, and is described well by Rossiter.

P5: From the big tree belay in the gully, climb up the gully a few feet past the tree until you spy above you on the face a crack-like weakness. This is the route. Rossiter illustrates it as being a double crack at the top, and indeed it is, but the features can hardly be called cracks. The pitch passes a piton with a ring about half-height, and finishes just right of the large tower that rewritten finishes on.

I don't give this variation many stars because although it has exciting exposure differentiating from the traditional Great Zot finish and adds to the overall quality of airiness that the fourth pitch delivers, it is very very loose. In the so-called cracks are flakes just waiting to be yarded on. It is definitely a matter of opinion, and this pitch delivers its' full dose of adventure, but finding good placements can be interesting at times. At one point there is an easy offwidth section within which lies a large loose block that would sever your rope at the very least. Be careful, and have fun.

Standard Eldo rack; there is one fixed pin on this route.