Central Fins - Left Tower + Groove

Fun moves on positive holds most of the way.

Difficulty is one grade harder if do not use the hidden hold at the crux -- and might be another trick -- (see beta in Comment below).

not

a sport climb: Although there is a bolt plainly visible near the ground, and even a second bolt a bit higher, above that you're either placing a full range of Trad protection, or soloing.

directions

: Start In a shallow alcove around the corner Left from the 15-20 ft tall deep chimney capped by a rock.

Diagonal up right on ramp to near the right edge corner of the face, then up onto wide platform.

. . . Variation 1 (more interesting + harder): A few feet up the ramp then go straight up face (just right of bolt) to reach wide platform.

Next aim up left for the obvious small tower. Start up its SW corner (with a thoughtful move 5.6 perhaps 5.7), later onto its South face, and to standing on top.

. . . Variation 2: Traversing around to the Left (N) side of tower and up is easier 5.5 and also interesting.

From standing on top of tower, get onto the main cliff and get established in the obvious right-trending groove with cracks (crux) - (beta in Comment below).  All the way to the top of the groove to reach two-bolt anchor.

. . . From here could angle right up gentle slope (loose rock?) to reach at an alcove under a small roof with two-bolt anchor on top (which is directtly above the top of the route Central Fins - Left Corner).

warning

: The rock in this sector has not been climbed much yet, and much of the rock is still breakable and loose -- so the belayer and other people should stand far away from underneath the climber.

Top anchor bolts installed and top-rope first ascent by Sharon + Ken Roberts

In a shallow alcove around the corner Left from the 15-20 ft tall deep chimney capped by rock which is the start of the Central Fins Left Corner route.

see L on this Photo

Lead: Single rack of cams using almost every piece from Camalot C3 #1 to Camalot C4 #3.

One bolt in lower part, just above first wide platform - (the climbing isn't so difficult, but would be a shame to take a ground-fall if a hold broke).

. . . Also one bolt for Variation 1.

Top anchor is two bolts connected by cord, with ramshorn lower-off.

. . . (bolts + upper hanger are 3/8-inch 304 Stainless. Lower hanger + ramshorn/pigstail are 316 Stainless. Installed 2018).

. . . (intermediate bolts + hangers for leading are all 304 Stainless. Instatled 2018).

In case anchor hardware is damaged or missing or otherwise inadequate, recommend to carry a few feet of 8mm climbing accessory cord and at least one quick-link.

Top-Rope: The two-bolt top anchor is a short ways (with one bolt along the way) below left from the alcove with small roof which is the higher anchor for the route

Central Fins - Left Corner

. So could be reached by first Leading that (bolted) route. Or from some other top anchor of the "Central Fins" part or "Upper RIght" part, by reversing the route "CF Left Upper Right".

For other ideas on how to get access to top of this route to set up a top anchor, see

the Area description page for this sector Dostie

.