- Edit (TBD)
Description
A note in the summit register laments the "demise of adventure climbing" and complains that Table for Two is a "sport route". I didn't find it to be that exactly, but I'll allow it as there's some nice bolts there.We thought this was a really fun route, with substantial runouts on every pitch on 5.6/5.7 climbing, but good pro on anything 5.8 and harder, and mostly good rock. Some bolts are old buttonheads, some are relatively new (note that although BC Rock Climbing correctly describes the route as retro-bolted, the new bolts are not shown on the guidebook topo). All belays are bolted with chains. Only about 10 feet of the route seemed harder than 5.8 to us and it's actually a lot less sustained than Wily Javelina, although the book does rate the start of the crux pitch at 5.9+. With all that said, this is a Southern Arizona backcountry route: it does have run-outs, loose rock in places, some questionable bolts, and gear placements in dubious rock. Although it is “retrobolted,” that's only a few added bolts across the entire route, and the route as a whole only has a dozen or so lead bolts total spread across six pitches. the route (reference p. 163 of the guidebook):1) Turn the roof (bolt), place pro, then head up and right past two more bolts, with great climbing on perfect brown edges up and right (not left as guidebook says) of the 2nd bolt to the belay (5.8, 150')2) Wander up large features past 2 bolts, then head right on the obvious & very cool "heebee jeebee" traverse, over to & up a LF flake, which with all the bushes removed is probably more like 5.6 than the book's 5.8 (5.8, 100')3) Up and slightly left past 2 bolts, then up & out of a short LF corner, up & right, through a slot in a roof, and up a somewhat poorly protected LF corner (one bolt) to the belay). (5.8, 150') Note that there is some poor rock approaching this belay and at the beginning of the next pitch. 4) Straight up the obvious RF corner on hand-sized gear (probably no harder than 5.8, but some friable rock - you're climbing a big flake of sorts that gets more solid the higher you go). Exit left as the crack dies & run it out 20+ feet to a bolt, then up and left to two more bolts (1 old & thankfully 1 new) that safely protect the steep, exciting crux, then super fun plate climbing to a 2-bolt belay. (5.10a, 150')5) Short pitch straight up past 2 bolts, over the bulge to a 2-bolt belay right of a tree. (5.7, 100')6) Essentially, go straight up to the large ledge below the summit. Low angle at first then really fun chickenheads to finish (5.6 150') Scramble to the top and contemplate the actual summit, which fairly defies belief.Rappel the route (2 ropes).
Location
There are several obvious, long brown streaks on the center-right portion of Table Dome's east face. The route starts on the left edge of the brown streaks, 30 ft. right of Wily Javelina. The first pitch turns the right side of an obvious roof with a bolt 30 feet off the ground. Features can be hard to locate from the base, but become apparent on route.
Protection
A set of nuts and single set of cams from blue alien to #3 camalot should be enough, along w/many runners & 3 or 4 draws. The # 2 & 3 camalots are generally useless except on P1 & P4.