Initial Hangover

The Initial Hangover is a more direct and much more challenging start for the similarly named "

Initial Route

." There is essentially no warm up, so the route gets and stays in your face for the first 25'. After that, you merge with The Initial Route. Taking the Initial Hangover to the Initial Route will give you two overhanging slots to fight through. If that is not enough showing off, step left after the second belay and finish on the roofs of

Allosaur

, for a total of 4 overhangs.

This route begins just left of

The Initial Route

, but is best started in a different way. Instead of going up under the amphitheater onto the main ledge, continue to walk up the West Ridge Trail keeping an eye on the left-hand edge of the

Allosaur

wall. Just before you find yourself just around the corner to the West, you will be able to look up and see a big, rough overhang of dark, gritty stone, about 40 feet above you. The Initial Hangover is the gash that splits the roof. The rock here is more solid than it looks, save for a few chips of rock which will be at your feet getting started. Rack up near the trail and scramble up and right on the low angle rock to just below the gash. The scramble is 3rd class with a few 5.3(?) moves.

P1: 5.10, 50' Set a belay by slinging the huge horn just south of the start with a cordalette. Set some protection overhead and cruise (bruise?) up through the overhang to jugs up above. Merge with a corner system as on

The Initial Route

. Finish this pitch just below another big roof with a flaring squeeze-slot through it. Belay below this or continue climbing up it.

P2-P3: Finish as for

The Initial Route

. (P2 through the slot above, 5.9. P3 through a nice acute dihedral, 5.8, to the top.)

There are multiple options for descent, as listed for

Allosaur

. Perhaps the best option to take if you've left packs up on the Amphitheater ledge is to scramble east, then South around the back side to arrive at the Rap anchors above the amphitheater roof. Rap a single rope to the ground. A 50m cord should reach, but I've only tried 60-70m, so I am not 100% sure.

A standard Rack with one set of stoppers & one set cams with optional #4. The crux can be well protected, but once above it, the moves are still hard, the ledge is still close, and placing gear is awkward. Be careful.