Brush recommendations for cleaning routes

[John Frieh]

Intend to clean some alpine rock routes in the next few weeks; expecting to only have to deal with mostly lichen and maybe a loose rock/flake or two (i.e. no dirt). Other consideration is weight: the approach is lengthy so I would like to go as light as possible with everything I take.

 

What works? Size? Brush material? Quantity? Insights into cleaning? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[mattp]

For the initial pass, a 4" broad knife gets much of the lichen off and it also works well for carving the dirt and moss out of cracks, too. (I think you're likely to find dirt in cracks, even high on some alpine route, but maybe you have some unique rock type that doesn't have any.) The broad knife, your nut pick, and a fairly small wire brush will do pretty well for what you're describing.

[Lambone]

moss killer

[cman]

a decent size wire brush does the trick, how big depends on how much moss/dirt/lichen you need to clean off.

[chucK]

I suggest using a bandanna over your face to inhibit the inhalation of lichen particles