Route Name: Pogo Lord:

Application Status: Approved

Application Cycle: 2012

Rock Formation: The Slab

Number of lead bolts to be placed: 4

Number of anchor bolts to be placed:

Route Difficulty:5.12+

Route Diagrams:

Not provided

Proposed Route:

Description Establish a new, 100-foot sport climb graded 5.12+ on the center-left side of the West Face of the Slab. The climb will have thirteen total lead bolts, a two-bolt top anchor, and a midway anchor for rope-drag management and that lets climbers do only the 5.11c first pitch if they so choose. Detailed Description Pogo Lord has no opportunities for reliable natural protection along its 30-meter (100-foot) length, and the applicants would like to place thirteen protection bolts as well as two sets of anchors (4 bolts total), one at the top of the wall and one at the midpoint (15 meters). This midpoint anchor would allow for two new pitches of a more moderate/warm-up grade at the Slab, where to date the range has been almost exclusively 5.12 to 5.13. On the whole, Pogo Lord in its entirety climbs good, solid, featured rock on overhanging dinner plates (5.11d/12a; the first eleven bolts) to a crux encounter (5.12c) on small crimpers at the final two bolts.

Name Meaning:

Not provided

Existing Route Information

Existing Route Diagrams

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.

The approach is via a designated but unsigned climber-access trail, the standard approach to the north/west face of the Slab, which leaves the Fern Canyon Trail about a quarter mile up from the Y-junction at the mouth of the canyon. The Slab-access trail heads south through the trees past two large boulders, crosses a talus field, and deposits you at the northwest corner of the formation. This climb is then two minutes up along the west face on a slightly uphill cliffbase climber trail traditionally used to access all the existing west-face climbs.

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 will be via a lower-off from the top of the climb, which deposits you back at 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 at the base of the climb is comprised of compact red soil mixed with scree- and talus-sized rocks.

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

Base Area Photos

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

This pitch, on excellent rock, overhangs severely along its length and has been freed on toprope at 5.12+. The applicants propose this latter midway anchor, atop the first pitch (5.11c), both to address rope-drag issues for those wishing to break the climb into two pitches as well as to provide a lowering anchor for the first pitch and for an alternate first pitch on the left (to be applied for later) that they have also toproped at mid-5.11. It is flat or gradually inclined, with a series of large boulders embedded 10 feet out from the cliff base (one, flat durable rock surface is convenient for toprope belaying) and some small pine trees here and there well off to the sides. It is contiguous with the staging areas for other west-face climbs including Whipping Post, Trad Kreem, Pen 15, and Super Kreem.

Any additional notes:

Not provided