Purina Crags/Planet of the Eights link-up
- Gear Used:
- 60 meter rope
- gear to 2 inches
- quickdraws
August 19, 2008
The Approach
Purina Crags is a short hike from the Snow Lake Trailhead. You can park in the parking lot if you have a permit or you can park on the road. The trail starts a couple hundred yards back down the road and onto private property. Take a lefthand fork to head to the base of poison ivy crack. We made this a link up with short hikes in between each climb. This ended up being a great way to get in some consistent climbing!
Poison Ivy Crack, 5.9**
gear to 2"
I have wanted to climb Poison Ivy Crack for awhile now. It's a great corner system with some great strenuous climbing. My only issue was it is to short! It would be amazing if it was only longer. The crux for me and Lacey was getting out of the crack and corner system and pulling up over the steep slab. Great fun!
Lacey following the nice corner system.
Making the final moves to the top.
Just Another Sucker on the Vine, 5.8*
gear to 1" :: 3 bolts
A short walk from the top of Poison I've Crack takes you to a large chockstone bridging the slab with a small tower. The climbing up the tower is easy. Walk across the chockstone and do a scary step across move onto the slab and into a small finger crack. Follow the crack until you see a couple of bolts. Interesting slab climbing that I found pretty scary at times.
Lacey cruising the upper slab. You can see the flat chockstone far below.
Small Change, 5.8*
gear to 2" :: 1 bolt
Kind of weird and grungy. It basically does an upward traverse from the left side of the face. Follows cracks until you just can't get any gear in then I clipped a bolt to get to the chains. Not sure if the bolt was part of the route or not?
Lacey high on Small Change.
Surveillance of Assailants, 5.8*
gear to 2" :: 4 bolts
This was an awesome climb. Easy for the first bit of the route with a fun roof move with perfect jams. Follow a short crack to the bolt protected face.
Me right above the cool roof move.
Lacey and I were celebrating our 1 year anniversary and were staying in Leavenworth for a couple of nights. We had perfect weather and hot tubs to ease our aching muscles. It was a great trip and I can't wait for year 2!
-Useful guide books-
