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Routes on Sphinx Rock

Gone Batty  21/A2 or 23    6 Roped Pitches on the East Face of Sphinx Rock


The climb follows the right slanting crack/open book system, which connects to the corner system right of the obvious pillar. The goal is the large roof crack which caps the face.

Start: Climb up onto platform below the right slanting crack system. 5m to the left of this crack is a tree, with routes coming down the face.

1. (40m; 16) Climb up tree routes to tree, traverse 10 m right into corner and ascend this to cubby hole below roof.

2. (50m; 18) Pull through roof and follow corner until one is forced to step right onto face. Climb the face just right of the corner to ledge below a large wild fig tree.

3. (45m; 16) Climb face, past fig tree, joining the corner at +-15m. Ascend corner via off-width to ledge. Continue up corner into chimney and stance just below large blocks wedged in chimney.

4. (15m; 20/A2 or 23) Climb past blocks onto on-angle face. Tend slightly left to reach roof at its far left point. Traverse right with difficulty until it is possible to stem out and around. Pull up into small exposed corner stance.

5. (20m; 17) Continue up corner until possible to step right onto face. Climb this, tending diagonally right to large block stance below roof.

6. (20m; 21 A1) Crawl left along narrow ledge and then out toward roof crack . Aid on bolts and a friend placement until possible to gain recess above. Climb this to top.
(Alternative: Crawl left along narrow ledge and continuing into dark tunnel diagonally right, gaining a chimney which is easily climbed to top.)

Descent: from the summit, walk west over back of sphinx to reach a gully system which breaks the back from North to south. Scramble down either gully and ab once to reach the ground. Head down to gain path which circumnavigates the mountain. Follow this back to the road.

First Ascent: Mark Seuring and Alard Hüfner, July 1998

More info to follow.

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