Ascent Notes for: Nutcracker - 5.8 popular Average Rating : 4.48/5

Did p1 &3. Foot slipped off at the crux on p1 but I had just placed a purple bd so it was clean fall. Glad I led it!

day climb. It's been years since I've done it but it was an awesome start to the year an it was empty.

Lead P1-P2 and P3. Route was really good. (First ones on route at 10:30am after a rainy morning). Perhaps a little harder than I expected it to be. The crux of P4 would be pretty scary on lead but Eric just jumped from the left jug like it was nothing while I right heel hoked with a little bit of trouble. The view from the top of Manure PB is amazing.

Especially P1. Perfect and sustained lieback. Perhaps the most beautiful 5.8 I've ever done! Led P1 P2 P4.

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First climb in Yosemite Valley! It is amazing here! Leading Pitch 1 was awesome doing the layback slightly runout. The holds are slim on the steepest section here and you don’t want to take away a hold with pro. That said I probably could have placed some pro by my feet once I passed it. Pitch 2 was fine but super easy. The climbing gets to be 5-star again right after it though. Pitch 3 was amazing jamming up the crack system. The way we did it, we had a long Pitch 4 to right under the “crux.” Being 5’10” the crux was super easy and seemed like a 5.6 maybe 5.7 move… It would be much harder for a shorter person. Great top-out with an awesome view.

With Colin from Scotland! Onsighted p1-2 October 2010 (then stormed off), so I gave those leads to Colin. Then we swapped leads to finish. We had the route to ourselves that morning. Hot and greasy! Mantle move was exciting and scary for me. Due to the length and traversing nature of the crux pitch, I could see it being possible for the second to also sustain an ankle injury if they fell off the crux move (with rope stretch). I kept my second very tight at the start.

Overall an excellent climb but it was a clusterf*ck the day we ascended it. Erik led all pitches. Started 5.9 right variation to avoid some of the crowd.

bold mantle move on the last pitch took some care, (not a bad thing) and the climbing was stellar throughout. Took the 5.9 start, and it was a blast. Excellent morning out.

great climb with exhilerating mantel.