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The Grinch - 5.7 popular

Average Rating = 3.00/5 Average Rating : 3.00 out of 5
Route sequence (left to right): 0
Route Summary | Ascent Notes (3)
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Larry DeAngelo, Karsten, John Wilder, Daniel DuToit
Rock (Trad)
R
5
gear to 4", small stoppers may be useful
600
Consensus Ratings
  Difficulty 5.8
  Safety Rating R
  Exposure 3.50/5
  Rock Quality 2.33/5
  Scenery 5.00/5
  Fun Factor 3.33/5

Description:

This is an adventurous route that lies just left of Cat in the Hat. Start about 50' uphill from Cat and climb the first pitch of Cat in the Phat (a pleasant, if slightly run-out face pitch just left of Cat), joining Cat just below the first belay. Rather than continue to the ledge with bolts, belay about 20' below on a large ledge. From here, head up an obvious crack on the left wall and follow a gully above to a tree with slings. At this point, head up the face above to a ledge, then traverse right for 50' or so to an obvious varnished face. Climb this up and right to a crack and follow this to a belay stance almost a full rope length above. Finally, step right to a dihedral and climb straight up, eventually arriving on the final ledge of Cat in the Hat.

Descent Options:

Rappel Cat in the Hat with a 70m rope (some slight down climbing involved).

Submitted by: vegastradguy on 2007-03-12
Views: 3292
Route ID: 83263

3 Ascents Recorded

GoRecord an ascent

Ratings
  Difficulty 5.9
  Safety Rating PG13
  Rock Quality
  Fun Factor
Onsight Onsight ascent by: alexoverhere on 2009-12-31 (View Climbing Log)

2 out of 5 stars difficult routefinding

Wish the routefinding was more straightforward on this route. I only had the Handren guidebook with me and made a last-minute decision to try the Grinch because Cat in the Hat was clogged. Routefinding on P1 & P2 is straightforward. After the belay on the tree with slings, P3 goes up straight up a face for about 20 feet, passing a short smeary crux on small gear. At the end of the crux, I removed an obviously off-route bail anchor directly above the belay tree and then traversed right following Handren's picture, climbing up through a one-move 5.9 crux to where I thought the long crack system should be. Here I found an obvious crack and set up a hanging belay on horns and brassies. P4 went up the long crack on pleasant, low-angle terrain for a full rope-length, at which point I could hear people at the top of Cat in the Hat. For P5, I followed the voices, traversing right and up over poor protection. This pitch was highly unpleasant due to rope drag, a lack of pro, and not knowing where I was going. I ended up 15 feet to the left of the anchors for Cat in the Hat. I would not recommend this route due to the lack of obvious route markers after P2.

Added: 2010-01-04

Ratings
  Difficulty
  Safety Rating R
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Second Second ascent by: ddt on 2007-02-10 (View Climbing Log)

4 out of 5 stars My intro to Red Rocks

Great day, great setting, great company. We originally planned to do Cat in the Hat, but Larry convinced us to try something more "adventurous" and save Cat for the day I bring Helette to Red Rocks.

Added: 2007-02-19

Ratings
  Difficulty 5.7
  Safety Rating R
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Onsight Onsight ascent by: vegastradguy on 2007-02-10 (View Climbing Log)

3 out of 5 stars A fun day out

Spicy, but fun. Perhaps a decent alternative if you've hiked into Cat and find yourself in a line....be aware- this route is seriously run out with the cruxes well above gear.

Added: 2007-02-10