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Cat in the Hat - 5.6 popular

Average Rating = 4.25/5 Average Rating : 4.25 out of 5
Route sequence (left to right): 1
Route Summary | Ascent Notes (147)
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Rock
Gear to 3"
480
Consensus Ratings
  Difficulty 5.6
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure 3.66/5
  Rock Quality 4.15/5
  Scenery 4.52/5
  Fun Factor 4.40/5

Description:

One of the best 5.6 multipitch routes in Red Rocks and one of the most popular as well. Start at a left leaning crack system on the west side of the south-east buttress of the formation. Pitch 1: Head up the crack system, generally trending left. Pass up a rap station and head for the ledges above. At the second ledge, head right 20' to a nice three bolt belay. 5.5, 150' Pitch 2: Head to the climbers right and then make one step up onto the ledge above you and walk straight east toward a dead tree with a gully/crack system above it. 5.0, 100' Pitch 3: Make some weird moves just right of a corner with a tree in it to gain a small ledge, then step left and head up the crack system. Belay at a tree with rap slings on it. 5.5, 50' Pitch 4: The first good pitch. Turn to the climbers left to a striking black wall with a crack system leading up to a small roof. Head up the crack on the right to just below the roof, then step left and head up easy terrain to a huge chockstone slung with slings. 5.6, 120' (Variation: Head straight up instead of stepping left. Pro is interesting and the climbing is a little tougher. 5.7, 110') Pitch 5: Step down on the east side of the ledge and head north along easy terrain around the corner and then downclimb to a nice ledge and belay. 5.2, 50' Pitch 6: Head up the amazing looking crack above you, stepping right after the bolt to the bolted belay above. 5.6, 140'. From here, two choices present themselves. The first is to rappel the route by rapping down the south side of the face you just climbed back to the block with the slings. From there, rappel the route with two ropes. Alternatively, you can continue up for several hundred feet of 4th class terrain to the base of a large chimney in the red rock. Ascend this chimney (5.7/5.8) to the summit of Mescalito. From here, head back to the saddle, then drop into the north fork of the canyon (stay high!) and walk back to the car from there. Allow for three to four hours for this descent.

Submitted by: vegastradguy on 2005-11-07
Views: 6533
Route ID: 9916

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147 Ascents Recorded

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Ratings
  Difficulty 5.6
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Second Second ascent by: breaksteel on 2014-05-14 (View Climbing Log)

5 out of 5 stars Quite a mix

Climbed with Lauren and guide Ben. Super fun climb, plenty of gear. First climb I've ever enjoyed an off width section, all be it a very short section.

Added: 2014-05-14

Ratings
  Difficulty 5.6
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Solo Solo ascent by: jmeizis on 2013-09-30 (View Climbing Log)

4 out of 5 stars Excellent

Soloed this to the top of Mescalito before heading over to do Olive Oil. Great climbing, lots of rests and ledges. The descent kind of sucks because it means you have to bring rope or walk a long ways. I brought a single rope. Do not do this! You need two ropes for the standard rappel descent. I ended up rapping off a sketchy rock tunnel. You can see the slings to the left if you're doing a double rope rappel. Also be careful of the first pull, it's easy to get the rope stuck.

Added: 2013-10-28

Ratings
  Difficulty
  Safety Rating G
Onsight Onsight ascent by: ngolden02 on 2013-03-25 (View Climbing Log)

4 out of 5 stars first route at red rock

tons of people on this one

Added: 2013-04-07

Ratings
  Difficulty 5.6
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Onsight Onsight ascent by: bowleggedgoat on 2010-11-10 (View Climbing Log)

4 out of 5 stars The Cat in the Hat

Fun, lots of climbers on it. Got a free beer out of it. Ran out the traverseything.

Added: 2012-02-07

Ratings
  Difficulty 5.6
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Onsight Onsight ascent by: coryberkebile on 2010-03-20 (View Climbing Log)

3 out of 5 stars Good route, with an alpine feel

Easy fun climbing, no real exposure until the last pitch. A great route for beginner muli-pitch climbers.

Added: 2012-01-19

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