[TR] Aasgard Pass - The Valkyrie 8/29/2014

[Vernman23]

Trip: Aasgard Pass - The Valkyrie

 

Date: 8/29/2014

 

Trip Report:

Headed up to climb Acid Baby but there was a group of three starting and a group of two waiting (no idea this route was so popular!). With the wait and never liking to climb under people we switched gears and climbed The Valkyrie. Blake's TR has the best beta mine is just to add to it a bit. I added what I felt like are the grades and different pitch options just to add to the dialogue on this amazing route!

 

P1. Up slab 5.8 to corner which is fun and protects well 5.10b. Belay at the orange wall.

 

P2. Step out right and into crack (fairly heady move) 5.10c/d? (sections until the off-width felt hard). Continue up widening crack to off-width 5.10b didn't use anything larger than a 3 and thought it would be hard to place when jammed in the crack. Continue up to left facing hand crack 10b. Belay at the end here on horn or with a 70 continue straight up for another ~25m on face holds and cracks to a blocky belay that had a red sling tied around it (doing 3/4ths of p3 via Blake's topo)

 

P3. Two options if you linked p2&3 via Blake's topo you can continue up and slightly left and do the rest of P3 (about 20m) or you can continue straight up from the belay via thin finger cracks (10+/11- & dirty) which takes you right into the corner that you traverse into on the standard P4, corner felt like 5.9/10-.

 

P4/5. Continue up easy cracks to face knobs (5.10b) then you can either belay quickly here or with a 70 you can finish off the ridge traverse of Acid Baby (5.9 exposed).

 

To get off you walk off don't try to rap walk off is easy. down climb from ridge to scree traverse north (climbers left) then head East (up) then you will be on top and its an easy walk down to your pack.

 

Gear Notes:

Doubles to 3" handful of slings.

 

Approach Notes:

up hill

Edited August 30, 2014 by Vernman23