Route Name: Tiger King

Rock Formation: Hillbilly Rock

Number of bolts to be placed: 9 to 11 lead bolts connecting into 3 bolts on existing route Suttree and sharing the same anchors as Suttree, It is envisioned that five permadraws will be necessary for the upper bolts due to the steep and traversing nature of the route

Route Difficulty: 5.13

Route Description:

Tiger King climbs the appealing vertical face to overhanging terrain right of the newly installed (but not yet freed) climb Suttree, about halfway between Suttree and West Face. It begins with a boulder  problem section along a layback flake to a small scoop/ledge, and then climbs the thin, sustained tan-colored face above on small edges and micro-crimps to a large, obvious roof band in the middle of the wall. A final crux here leads to a vertical panel and a rest, then tackles a rising hand-traverse left along the purple flake/ledge system that angles up toward the crest of the wall, where it joins Suttree for its final three bolts to a shared lowering anchor over the lip. (The second roof band, above the traverse, looks too blank to facilitate free climbing, while the natural line moves left below it along the obvious break.) The prospective grade is mid-5.13.

Overview of existing routes nearby

A description of existing routes on the same face of the rock formation, including the number of routes, route names, route grade, type, and an approximate distance between routes (a photocopy or diagram of the existing route(s) is also required):

The west face of Hillbilly Rock has seven existing climbs. The leftmost one is Horsefly Hootenanny, a 5.13- on the upper left side of the west face. Then there is Cry Uncle (5.13-), which branches right off of Horsefly. Right again is Child of God, which moves up the prow in the middle of the wall at 5.13+. Right again is the newly equipped (but not yet freed) Suttree, a prospective 5.14. Then would be the proposed climb, Tiger King. Finally, West Face (5.12c) is located down and right 10 feet, while the rightmost routes (Hillbilly Warmup, 5.11d, and West Face Right, 5.12a) are located another 40 feet downhill near the southwest margin of the wall. All are sport climbs, though West Face Right does have some moderate traditionally protected climbing to reach the first bolt.

Approach to Hillbilly Crag

A description of the approach (include approximate distance from the designated trail system, existing “social” or undesignated trails leading to the climb and condition of the trail, and state whether there is a durable surface, such as rock.  Include photographs of the approach.):

The approach is via NCAR. Take the Mallory Cave Trail to the Mesa Trail; head north to where the Mesa Trail traverses across Skunk Canyon. Head west into Skunk Canyon on the climber’s approach trail, then head due north up the gully east of Hillbilly Rock to reach the south then west side of Hillbilly Rock on an existing climber’s trail. The trail is on durable, hard-packed dirt and talus.

If different from the approach, a description of the descent, (include approximate distance from the designated trail system, existing “social” or undesignated trails, a description of the trail condition and whether there is a durable surface, such as rock.  Include photographs of the descent.):

The descent is via lowering off the Suttree anchors back to the staging area

A description of the area at the base of the climb (include existing levels of soil compaction, existence of a durable surface such as rock, and existing soil erosion.  Include photographs of the area at the base of the climb.)

The staging area is a rock ledge against the wall, with compact dirt and rock behind it as you move slightly out from the wall.

Has all reconnaissance work that can be reasonably done, short of placing any hardware, been done?

The route has been inspected on top-rope and on rappel as best as possible, with the shared exit (last three bolts) of the existing climb Suttree having been climbed at 5.12+. Given the steepness of the wall, lack of directional gear (there are no cracks on the lower sections), and proximity of tall trees (dangerous for top-roping) behind the line, no further reconnaissance was possible.

Has the route been top roped?  Is there loose rock?  Is it extremely overhanging?

The route in its entirety has not been top-roped due to its very overhanging angle, lack of directional gear, and the presence of trees behind the wall you could swing into. It has, however, been inspected multiple times, including on rappel and on top-rope from the neighboring climb Suttree, and the shared exit with Suttree has been climbed at 5.12+. The estimated total difficulty is 5.13. The line has a flake in the roof band at half height that will that need to be cleaned, but is otherwise on solid rock. The line is extremely overhanging—20 to 25 degrees—through the middle and upper sections, and gently overhanging at the start.

Any additional notes:

none

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