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Peak Mountain 3

Lower Kor's Crack

FA LA Mountaineers (aid), First Free Ascent: Layton Kor, 1968
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Description

Start behind the juniper, and move up the slick thin finger crack. The crux is about 8 feet up, and can be protected with cams and an attentive belay. Half way up the cliff, you'll reach a big ledge. Continue straight up on Gymnast (5.8) to the top.  (Yes, it doesn't make sense that "Lower Kors" doesn't climb into "Upper Kors")Attention: this crack might eat your cams if you let them walk in. 2 are stuck in there, and have been for years.The original 5.9 rating is a bit of a sandbag, as with many "5.9"s Layton Kor put up in the western U.S. when there were no 5.10s. Clark's guide calls this 5.10d- which is an overestimate, in my opinion. The difficulty is very likely subjective to the size of your fingers (bigger is probably better) and your confidence in trusting your feet in the slick corner. It's also hard to rate because it's really just a boulder problem crux.

Location

Just left of the point of the cliff, Lower Kor's is the thin finger crack starting behind the juniper. It is route #15 in the Potrillo miniguide

Protection

Cams & nuts to 3". 2-bolt anchor.