Ascent Notes for: Knapsack Crack - 5.5 popular Average Rating : 3.44/5

sammy climbed p1 and I did p2 but we couldn't hear each other and i didnt make it to the top. Everything was good though, set up belay and got sammy up; he finished then to the top. Bring radios next time or just do it in 3 pitches. Also I thought going outside the wide section was a bit harder than 5.5 but maybe I was doing something wrong.

Took charlie and Andrea out for their first trad climbs. Easy warmup. Really doesn't feel 5.5 - it's a great spot to teach/learn.

Took Lisita on her second multi-pitch. She'll be ready to lead it next time. Would probably be a good first multipitch route for the beginning leader.

Good fun.

Climbed solo a few hours after simul-climbing with the Klown.

Would be a great intro to trad climb. Simul-climbed with See Eye.

My climbing partner and I sat around trying to decide what to do about saturday brunch late on friday night. When we couldn't agree we decided the only reasonable thing was to drive out to Tahoe and attempt to climb hogsback. Yes we knew it would be partially under snow. Isn't that why we all climb though the Adventure.

The aproach in took close to 3 hours but that is partly because we missed the left turn off the main trail. The rest was coming around the side of hogs back while it was covered in snow.

The climb itself was clear accept the first part of the first pitch. We snow climbed to the clear rock and then added a pitch I wil call the hogs tail traverse - traversing where the snow met the rock adding a few pieces of gear here and there to stop major slips from equalling sliding down to the bottem of hogs back.

I did the first pitch in my 5.10 apoach shoes. We used the tree as an anchor for the first pitch and I put on my climbing shoes. The second pitch gave me some trouble - a few wet spots meant slipping.

The anchor was built above the piton and the final pitch I led. Good easy pro quick pitch - at most a 5.1/5.2 with the end being a 4th class run up to a tree.

Over all a great climb - good fun and a great place to place your first peices of gear.

quick and easy intro to the sport

watch for loose rock

...and that's all I have to say about that.