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Rack- Although these routes have been recently retro bolted, they are not sport routes and a standard rack should be carried on all of them. It's possible to descend from all the routes with a single rope by making two rappels. Bring another rope if you want to get down with only one rap. Several of these climbs have been in existence for 20 or more years, but never received much traffic due to the nasty runouts they had before the newly added bolts. So, these routes haven't reached the "classic" status yet that the other routes we describe have, but because they provide very good climbing and are quite close to Cathedral and Whitehorse Ledges, we felt they deserve to be written up. They are definitely worth a visit. The local climbers who recently added bolts to the existing lines here did so with the permission of the first ascensionists and tried to place them in such a way that climbers on both sides of the bolting issue could live with them. These routes have always provided excellent climbing, but practically no one ever gave them a try before they were cleaned and bolted. It's hoped that these routes can now be enjoyed by many more climbers.
These routes on the left side of Humphrey's Ledge provide some excellent, moderate climbing on sound rock. This cliff has a reputation for loose rock, but these routes on the left side are pretty solid. All routes have double bolt rappel anchors making for very convenient descents. These routes all face south, so take this into consideration when climbing here. This area is about 1.5 miles north of Cathedral Ledge on Westside Road. Park on the road opposite the entrance to the Lady Blanche House. There is a trail leading from the road up into the woods. Follow this through some boulders (a popular bouldering area) and up to the base of the cliff. Follow the trail left until nearly at the end of the cliff. Wanderlust-
5.8+ Pitch
1- 5.8+ Climb the slab past four bolts and up over a
steep bulge. Continue on lower angled rock past one more bolt to a double
bolt anchor.
Run
Don't Walk- 5.9 Pitch
1- 5.9 Climb easily up the buttress to the steep rock.
Climb past two bolts and pull the overlap (crux). Continue up on lower
angled rock, passing two more bolts to a two bolt belay. Think
Fast Mr. Moto- 5.9 Pitch
1- 5.9 Climb steep rock past a bolt, a piton, and another
bolt. Angle left to pull over the overlap. Climb lower angled rock past
one more bolt to a double bolt anchor 15 feet to the left of the Run
Don't Walk anchor.
A
Piece of Cake 5.7-5.8 Pitch
1- 5.7 or 5.8 Climb the groove and face just to the right
of the big right right-facing inside corner past two bolts (5.7). This
bit is still a little dirty. Continue climbing up to a third bolt. Climbing
straight up to this bolt and then straight up to the fourth bolt is
5.8. Clipping these two bolts but staying in the corners to the left
is 5.6. Belay underneath an overhang at a two bolt anchor. Cakewalk
5.6 Pitch
1- 5.6 Climb a right slanting crack to a point where
it's possible to step over an awkward bulge (to the left 5.6, to the
right 5.7+). Climb up easier rock, staying to the left of the third
and fourth bolts on A Piece of Cake. Continue up the low angle slab
to a large tree with slings, (original line) or step right after the
bolts and belay at the two bolt anchor under a roof (same as for A Piece
of Cake). Descents- All these routes can be easily descended with a single 50 m rope. © Chauvin Guides International, P.O. Box 2151, North Conway, NH 03860 Voice: 603-356-8919
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