Route Description
The proposed route starts 15 feet right of the Perfect Storm and 25 feet left of Nattiq.
The first pitch will be approximately 80 feet of 5.10 slab climbing to an anchor on the right side of the same ledge as the Perfect Storm anchor.
The first 10 meters of the 2nd pitch climbs through the right side of the beautiful yellow streaks that run down the wall. This is technical face climbing on interesting edges. The next 10 meters initially climbs the inside of a right facing corner. As the inside corner becomes blank, the climbing moves up to the overhanging outside corner and traverses right across steep and difficult climbing on fantastic edges and features.
The pitch crosses Nattiq (sharing one bolt) and continues up and right across continuously difficult climbing on the same overhanging corner system for another 10 meters before the difficulty backs off and the climb swings up and back left to finishing holds and an anchor.
This second pitch angles right across the wall on a continuous feature (the overhanging corner) in the same way that Nattiq traverses left across a different feature (a crack system) on the same wall. Although the idea that these two routes will cross and share a bolt might seem like a conflict on paper, it is actually quite natural when you see the features, and it should not create an issue given the limited traffic on the North Face of Seal Rock.
The second pitch will be continuous and difficult, and the grade is expected to be 5.13+ or 5.14-.
Route diagram
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Existing route information
The North Face of Seal Rock has 8 existing routes.
1. Yellow Door (original route): a 2 pitch climb, with the first pitch rated 5.12c and the second pitch rated 5.13a. The route is mostly bolted, but takes gear at the start of the first pitch and end of the second pitch. (The recommended way of climbing Yellow Door is to finish on Sea of Joy, which makes the second pitch 13b).
2. The Hinge: a 5.13a sport route that shares the first pitch of Yellow Door, then climbs straight up a line of bolts from the belay to through the vertical face to anchors at the lip.
3. Sea of Joy: a three-pitch route that starts about 100’ right of Yellow Door. It is rated 5.13a and is mostly bolted, but takes some gear on the first pitch.
4. Archaeopteryx: A 3 pitch 5.11+ trad route that starts about 20 feet right of Sea of Joy.
5. Storm Bird: A link up route including part of the first pitch of Sea of Joy, followed by parts of the second pitch of Archaeopteryx, sections of new terrain and finishing on the top part of the second pitch of The Perfect Storm. There are sections of this climb that require traditional gear protection.
6. The Perfect Storm: A 2 pitch 5.13b sport route. The proposed route would share the first pitch of this route.
7. Yellow Streaks: A 2 pitch sport route that has been approved but not climbed yet. This route starts between The Perfect Storm and the proposed route, but angles left after 10 meters where the proposed route angles right.
8. Nattiq: A 2 pitch 5.12 sport route that begins 25 feet right of the proposed route. The proposed route intersects Nattiq part way on its second pitch and shares one bolt.
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Approach
The approach is up the designated trail to the base of Seal Rock, and then up the climbers trail to the North side of Seal Rock. This is the same trail used to access all the existing climbs on the North face of Seal Rock.
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Descent
The descent is via lowering off the route back to the staging area.
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Climb base area
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Reconnaissance work
Top Roped / Hazards
Additional notes
Similar to The Yellow Door, it’s hard to assess how steep this route climbs until you’re on it. Should provide another good challenge for the Seal Rock crew!
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