Brave Cowboy

This is a good route, it is probably seldom done.

This route is located far on the south side of Helen's Dome. Take the typical approach up the right side of the west face. This route isn't grouped with the "

Fool's Gold

" area routes. It is on a wall that is further to the right (south), past several huge, right-facing dihedrals. Keep heading right as the rock forces you. You will come to a nice, west-facing wall with a massive flake on the right hand side. The left hand side of this wall has a nice boulder/ledge with a fair-sized tree on it. If you look at the face behind and to the fight of the tree, you will notice that it doesn't have the same homogenous texture that most of Helen's Dome has. This section of rock seems slightly more metamorphosed.

Brave Cowboy starts from the ledge, just slightly left of the tree. Climb straight up a gorgeous jet black water streak to a high first bolt. Continue straight up to another bolt with fairly consistent climbing. This is kind of runout, so be sure that your belayer is ready to keep you from cratering. After this, the climbing eases up and the rock allows natural protection. Follow the crack system up into a very nice, easy, right-facing flake to a comfortable ledge with bolts on the right side. Double rope rap to bottom, or continue up easy unknown pitch above (5.6?).

The first section of this climb is excellent face climbing. It probably doesn't get much traffic.

6 draws/runners and a light rack of stoppers to hand-sized pieces.