Ascent Notes for: Beginner's Delight - 5.3 popular Average Rating : 4.08/5

... but still fun.
Chris did excellent placing pro on the middle pitch traverse. Turns out it does not have to be so run out.
Good idea to sling a block on the roof.
I lead the first pitch.

Beginner's Delight is a good name because if you are a beginner and you finish this lead you will feel delight towards your self. The traverse on the 2nd pitch requires some balls. Made me nervous and I was following.

Fun route with a lot of interesting moves.

Second ever multipitch climb, second time seconding. That traverse is definitely creepy, especially with the lovely wasp nest in the big flakey crack overhead halfway through it. Tons of exposure left me nearly in need of a fresh pair of boxers waiting after the rap!

Led p2

I loved this day. Perfect weather. No crowds.

The traverse left on the second pitch is about 1/2 way up the corner. There are 2 pitons along the traverse, but you got to go out there to see them.

We finished the 3rd pitch a bit off course I think. The belay was set up on a ledge with blueberry bushes growing out of the cliff. The way out was up the corner and around right to the face (nice exposure) and top out.

It turned out that the most thrilling and somewhat un-nerving part of the day was not the climb but the rap down.

All in all a banner day.

Holy scary traverse.

awesome 5.3! Loved the overhang starting the 3rd pitch.

Climbed this twice today. My son who is 14 absolutely loved it and did a great job seconding the pitch.
Climbed with the variation 5.4

I agree with the previous poster that Three Pines has less exposure for the true beginner. I'm getting more comfortable with exposure myself and enjoyed escaping the roof at the start of P3. I didn't think the traverse was all that tricky, except that some of the flakes in there that are obvious hand holds looked like you could pull them off the wall. The serving-platter sized chunk of freshy-fallen rock at the base was a little unnerving. Overall still a very enjoyable climb.