Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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37.03010°N / 119.3814°W |
Route Type:
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Trad Climbing, Sport Climbing |
Season:
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
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Time Required:
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Half a day |
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Rock Difficulty:
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5.9 (YDS) |
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Number of Pitches:
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4 |
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Description
This climb is a strong 5.9 in the old school tradition. It requires solid granite face climbing skills. Put up in an age when mistakes carried consequences. Enjoy!"Balls" was put up by Jenson and Brennan in 1976 (thanks Chief).
Approach
Descent Trail: (approx. 1/4 mile) begins at the hanglider's slab and descends between the Beginners/Sunday slab area. The trail bends to the right, skirts the slab, follows the basic contour of the rock until the base of the rock is reached. The climb begins on the slab to the right of "Tollhouse Traverse" and "Direct" and to the left of "Swallow."Rap Route: Begins on the ledge that the route finishes on, on the upper left of the rock, just North of Cap rock. Descend 3rd 4rth book to a ledge with two rap hangers. I have used two 60m ropes.
Descent TrailRoute
Pitch 1: Follow five bolts over sustained 5.9 to a two bolt belay (new bolts).Pitch 2: Follows two bolts over 5.7 face climbing to the base of a dramatic arching corner.
Pitch 3: This pitch is the climb's crux. Follow the right arching corner, protectable with smallish gear, then move up onto the face to what is now the first bolt of the pitch (the original bolt is no longer with us). Continue up past a sustained mucho pucker factor set of 5.9 moves for a few more bolts. Continue up a stout left facing headwall to a two bolt belay.
Pitch 4: Move up past three bolts past a 5.8 crux move and then onto easier climbing above. Belay at two bolts above the boulders on the ledge above.
Finish by following the ledge to the left until you reach the 4rth class ramp which heads up to the right then left up a small corner to the summit.
Gear
Trad DrawsMicro to Mid Sized Cams (pitch 3)
60m ropes