Handle This Hard On!

30 feet right of Ken Trout's route,

Mr Squirrel Places a Nut

, is a blunt arete flanked by two unappealing trad corners. The arete is Handle This Hard On - and a much beter route than the name would suggest. For a moderate 5.12, Handle is good problem because it delivers the crux right at the first bolt and backs off from there. The route will keep your attention, however, right to the end since it has several additional 5.11 cruxes on the way. The biggest challenge of Handle This seems to be in resisting the urge to dodge left, off the arete, to sneak back for the second clip. For working out the solution this is not bad dodge since it will set up a top rope for the crux. The real point seems to be in staying put on the little nothings for hands and feet until just above the second clip where a nice horrizontal jug awaits. I thought this was a very tricky and technical problem that was well worth sussing out the beta. I have not been able to locate any FA data for this line, which is unfortunate because it is one of the better routes on NTM.

This is a blunt arete 30 feet right of Ken Trout's route,

Mr Squirrel Places a Nut

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Quickdraws and a rope.