rocketparrotlet

I see what you did there

There was a past thread on this site that created the Renton Granite Hoax, and the joke still lives. The closest thing to rock climbing in Renton is the SR 900 cliff between Renton and Issaquah. Or the boldering done on the crack filled walls along Coal Creek Parkway. Still beats out Everett in the rock department.

Blueberry route is great. I thought it was a fantastic route, and the approach only takes about an hour. The granite sidewalk isn't that steep, I ran down it in sneakers with a backpack. I wouldn't want to go there if it's wet though. I found the descent to be the hardest part, but pick a descent and stick with it and it's not too bad. The other routes on Exfoliation Dome look even better, but I'm not that good of a slab climber yet. Maybe this summer.

Hey everybody. I'd be happy to head out with anyone, I like alpine, trad, sport, whatever kind of climbing. I'm looking forward to getting out as much as possible this spring/summer and meeting some new people. PM me if you're in need of a partner for anywhere. -Mark

Twice posted and never answered. I know it's funny to hold the cam above my head while I jump for it, but spill the beans! Also, what's this secret Renton crag? I don't think I've ever been to Renton.

Are there many/any established routes on this rock? Sport or trad (I'd guess trad by the looks of it)?

Cool, I thought that hook was lost for good. Thanks for letting me know you found it. I really couldn't imagine doing pitch 2 without cam hooks unless I had some ball nuts or something else like them. I found them to be awesome when climbing this route.

Ahhhh, that freaked me out. I thought I had found my way onto Rise and Fall because of how widely-spaced the bolts were on the bolt ladder and figured the free climbing must be hard. I almost tried it but decided to settle for a freaky sky hook move instead. It held...somehow.

Love the TR Keenan! Such a good trip. I think the most memorable moment for me was when I was straining to pull around that roof, I slotted in a nut, and something started shrieking at me...I think it was a swallow or a bat maybe? I couldn't see the placement very well, but I felt kind of bad for kicking whatever it was out of its nest. I thought I was going to get attacked. As for the rack, we had a bunch of small nuts and cams, 2 cam hooks, 2 sky hooks, a talon hook (unused), a bathook, and some larger nuts and cams. The route is in good condition, except for the occasional grime and slime that must be dug out to put in a piece, especially present on pitch 3 and 5. Awesome trip, I'd love to do some more walls in the future.

I'd like to join in with whoever if anybody needs a third man on the rope team.

I know this is a long shot, but I'm in South Lake Tahoe through April 10th, and I would really like to climb at Lover's Leap or one of the surrounding areas. If anyone is in the area and wants to climb, I have a rope and a full rack, and I'll be your belay slave on your project. -Mark

Okay then, thanks for the beta. I'll do it that way.

What you have described has been on my mind for a long time! My plan was to head up some route on GNS, do Timberjack, Plum Pudding, then Waiting for the Sun...sounds awesome however you slice it. Plenty up there that I've never had a chance to do. I'll probably throw a rope over Thin Fingers on the way down. Another plan of mine is to do Princely Ambitions pitch 1 and 2, then Lamar's Trust. Does that top out the Lower Wall?

I think like 2,500 people got one, if I'm reading the site statistics properly. I hope this doesn't put them into debt. I'm just as guilty as everyone else, though. I snatched that deal up like a warm slice of pie! Can't wait to use it.

Never mind.

Thanks guys. Looks cool, I will have to check out some of these routes next time I get a chance.

I was browsing a thread on Supertopo and I saw this: "What's really weird about Index is that although the Lower Wall and the Davis-Holland area of the Upper Wall are now almost always so crowded that virtually every route has a line-up, most of the Upper Wall areas, and often many of the little sub-crags, are still empty. Example: Darryl climbed a three-pitch gem on the Upper Wall five or six years ago. Beautiful climbing, with one of the longest pitches at Index, good pro, a summit top-out, and... Drum Roll... NOT HARD!!!! [explanation] For those of you not familiar with Index, its biggest drawback (aside from being wet in winter) is the almost complete lack of moderate routes. [end explanation] So, for there to be a new 3-pitch 10a trad gem about 5 minutes from the popular Davis-Holland area, should have drawn hordes. HORDES. Not at Index. Mari & I got on it last summer, five years after the first ascent -- five years -- and as far as I can tell we were maybe the fourth or fifth party to climb it. We recommended it to a friend, and he came back saying "Best moderate route at Index." - What is this route mentioned? I want to climb it. Are there any other similar hidden gems that are 5.10- or so? On a similar note, how is Dana's Arch after the sport bolted section? -Mark

Thin Fingers Breakfast of Champions City Park p2 Green Dragon Triple Couloirs Something by Liberty Bell Slesse NE Buttress

Weather looks fantastic tomorrow, is anyone interested in cragging at Index? -Mark

Looks fantastic...and terrifying! Great pictures by the way. -Mark

Eddie: thank you for the response. I agree with you here...what must not have been made clear, even though I stated it quite a few times at the store, is that the route in question has NEVER been done clean or freed. It is a nail-up route. There are at least 4 pitons in it right now; I guarantee that. If I saw someone hammering on City Park, I'd be angry too. But that's not the deal here. What I got wasn't advice. It was, frankly, a misinformed rant based on incorrect information- specifically that the route in question could be done any other way. I get that you and many others care about Index- so do I. I did my Eagle Scout project there because I wanted to contribute in a helpful way to our new climbing park. All I know is that the employees in Second Ascent and Marmot Mountain Works have always been very supportive and helpful and sincerely listened to what I have to say before passing judgment. -Mark

Yikes: I will have to take a look at that when I get home, thanks for the link! I wouldn't do it any other way. I won't even hook if the guidebook says to avoid it (e.g. Frog Pond)

It's in my plan to aid Iron Horse, Narrow Arrow Overhang, Stern Farmer, and some other clean aid routes before even attempting a hammer route. I just wanted to know the difference between Bugaboos, Lost Arrows, and knifeblades (still don't really get it that well...didn't get the best advice) and also I didn't/don't plan on leaving any pitons on Snow White if I do end up climbing it. I just wanted information. Also, Index is a fine place to practice hammer aid climbing...on established hammer aid routes. Not routes that can go free or clean aid, but things where hammer aid is required. I need to practice if I'm going to be climbing any walls this summer.

I went in to Feathered Friends today to ask about pitons and maybe buy one or two for aid climbing, mentioning that I'm a beginner at aid climbing and trying to get the appropriate gear. There are some routes at Index that can't be done without them that I would like to climb (for example, Snow White, an A3 route near Princely Ambitions with some mandatory piton moves.) So I asked about the difference between pitons and the sales assistant behind the counter went off on a tirade about how it's not okay to use pitons at Index and about how if I can't climb a route with hammerless aid, then it shouldn't be climbed at all. Overall, it was a very bad experience, the sales assistant was very unhelpful, and I would not want to go there again. I'll take my business elsewhere in the future. -Mark

Thanks everybody for the help. Your advice has been taken to heart. I'm taking a few days off and starting to feel better. -Mark