Ascent Notes for: The Pulpit - 5.8 popular Average Rating : 4.25/5

Led pitches 1,3,5. Followed 2 and 4 in a 4 man group.

Mostly fun and varied climbing from bottom to top and a bit different from many of the sometimes monotonous routes at Stone. Overall, a pretty safe route if you can avoid slipping on the easy runout sections. There are definitely some very nasty falls possible. It's really R, but it's probably more like PG-13 in the same way than an easy free solo is "relatively safe".

There were only a few spots where I was far away from gear and making a less than very easy move - in particular the traverse across the water streak on P3. I think I screwed up and went too high because I had to downclimb slightly to get to that anchor which was kind of tricky. Even though the features are a bit less good/obvious it might be better to cross the water streak lower. One could load up on gear (some mid to small nuts and/or a couple small cams) in the crack before the traverse - and should b/c it's all the gear you get the whole pitch. I clipped the off-route anchor out right on that pitch before the traverse but it may not be worth it since it had to be LONG, the move to the crack is very easy and it required a bit of a tricky move to get back down after clipping.

We accidentally split the 2nd to last pitch into P4 and 5 (guide says to clip the anchor and move on but we stopped). Next anchor is hidden behind the giant flake directly above the belay that looks like it'll take a large cam. Easy but runout climbing, hardest right off the belay. Partner got a mediocre small cam under a dubious flake, a pink tricam and that was it. In the next section I found a weird hole that might have taken a larger tricam but I didn't have one on me. Only pro I got was a cam in the flake right before the anchor.

Last pitch had a bit of a friction climb start but eased off after a little overlap, which takes sketchy small cam(s). Hike off through the woods to find your way back to the Arch topout area.

Partner did the dirty crack start b/c of ice and snow on the pulpit crack/start proper. Was definitely a moment transitioning across routes, more scary for me than him since I was facing a pendulum to the first bolt as soon as I unslung the tree. Still, once that was done it felt pretty easy for 5.8. I took P2 and found only 2 bolts and no pin or gear options. Hardest move was getting off that belay. Easy climbing after the bolts but would have been NASTY to fall after bolt 2, you'd probably pendulum all the way back down to the belay. Someone should replace the decapitated piton. There is a little bit of a move after where the piton was too depending on how you choose to reach the belay. Had to rap from here due to time but it was a fun bit of climbing to that point. P3 looks mostly easy but again it would be nice to have at least a couple bolts (why people? why? Does every route there have to be a free solo?)

P1 was actually pretty reasonable but I suspect P2 would be considered R in another context, but considering it's Stone, it's "very safe". Probably true of the remaining pitches too.

a little run out... gotta just block it out of your head

Beautiful weather for a full day at Stone in March. Our first climb of the day, I led the third pitch to the Oasis, which is one of the coolest features I have seen at Stone.

Not much to say except we stopped at the Oasis.

cool route. a bit wandery and definitely run out in spots. couple notes: i started on dirty crack, traversing right after slinging the tree. this short traverse was possibly the hardest part of the whole climb. the fixed pin on P2 is gone, but the climbing to the belay is easy. for the beginning of P3, a 00 TCU goes in upside down a bit up the 'easy ledges' and then because it was wet, i clipped the belay to the left before traversing and climbing over the dihedral. besides that, its pretty straightforward!

This is my first "full-length" lead (from ground to summit) at Stone Mountain and probably my favorite to date. Led all five pitches as a party of three; using double ropes, it was easy bringing up my two partners. The climbing is heady in places, especially the start of P2, but between bolts and natural pro, it's better protected than many routes here. The Oasis is a great place to relax and enjoy your lunch while waiting for the climbers on Grand Funk to clear P4. Overall, excellent climbing, nice views and a fine way to spend a day at Stone Mountain!

Awesome climb

1st pitch only (lately it has been rained whenever I head to stone) Nice climb.