Another Pretty Face

Another Pretty Face is an alternate start to the first 2 pitches of Question of Balance.  Though the ratings are close, Question of Balance's first 2 pitches are significantly easier overall.  Combining Another Pretty Face with Question of Balance's p3 and the Direct roof on p4, is touted as the being the best climb at Questa, dubbed "Questa Direct".Pitch 1: Begin about 40' right of the start of Question of Balance, or about 10' left of the start of Tostadas Comquesta and a big right-facing corner. [Note this climb is NOT the one with new bolts immediately right of Question's p1- that is a new 5.11 variation start to Question; Pretty Face begins farther right of that start.] Spy the lower left end of the obvious roof to get your bearings. A tricky 5.10- slab move without good pro immediately near you lets you move left to a new bolt [this replaced a partially driven fixed pin here] at the lower left corner of this roof.  [You could also climb a direct start to this point-- steeper angling cracks from the left to get to this bolt at 5.10+.] Step left to two twig-like pine "trees", and follow 5.10- cracks and flakes, passing another fixed pin at a face section, and reach a 3-bolt anchor after 150'. Although the guidebooks and the old topo suggest to belay in a lower location, it is better to do as described here. Excellent pitch.Pitch 2: Traverse left from the belay to the first bolt (potential to fall onto the belay with a 5.10 move or two). The well-protected crux of the climb is the 5.11 slab section between the 1st and 2nd bolts. After the 2nd bolt, the difficulty eases but it's a 25' run-out getting to the next bolt. Before you get to the 3rd bolt, you can cut left on an easier but unprotected rail to join Question of Balance pitch 2 finger crack, or continue up the thin face past the 3rd bolt, after which you'll join Question midway through pitch 2 anyway. Follow this 5.9 finger crack up and right to an anchor with bolts & chains. Classic thin face/slab climbing.Rappel from the p2 anchor to the ground with 2 60m ropes (it will just barely reach); or continue up Question of Balance, which is recommended and the next 2 pitches are great.  If you keep going and top out the dome, it should be about 5 pitches total, plus some easy scrambling. Walk off the east side.A nice topo is found on the Questa Direct page of Gary Clarks Classics collectionThe topos in the guidebooks covering Questa Dome are good too.

Another Pretty Face begins just left of Tostadas con Questa, the prominent left-facing dihedral near the right side on Questa Dome, and about 40' right of the start of Question of Balance. It starts below a big roof.

1 set nuts, 1 set cams to 3", with 2 ea. in finger sizes useful.