Ascent Notes for: The Razors Edge - 5.6 popular Average Rating : 4.39/5

now its done, waited after all these years.
all about the exposure and an awesome rap.
The group ascent flowed well this year !

wild climbing in 60+ mph winds with brad

Nice exposure and fun for a 5.6. It was windy when we wrapped down and the wind was pushing us around. I rate it PG13 for the old gear

Great climb. Friend and I did this in approach shoes since he forgot his climbing shoes. Hahaha. Took some videos, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6EuhMVL1U4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3M7LBrSPuU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJTf4pEG9qU

GREAT exposure.
Fun rappel.
Great views of the Sups.
Highly recommended.

Great Exposure - Man up and walk the Ledge Matey!
Aaaaargh... Good windy rap gets the rope stuck so be prepared
for an epic should one occur...

supers mind set - leader must not fall! airee summit.

repeat after me..."the leader does not fall..."

Pretty easy. Awsome two rope repel. My partner got stung by a wasp.

This was a great half day trip and a wonderful way to experience the Sups!

$5 to park in day use area. Hike to Hand took us about an hour but we were hiking slow cause it was kinda hot that morning. Watch for rattlesnakes...and GILA MONSTERS! Follow trail to highest point and follow trail left of bench up rocky slope, through saddle and up to the Hand. The trail takes you to a spot where it seem like the climb should start but you actually walk down the hill and to the right to start in the gully.

We basically looked at 3 gullies in the beginning, all looking pretty much like 4th class scrambles. We started on the one on the far left (the hardest looking one) but ran into a wasps nest. Went to the middle one and it took us to the same spot - easy 4th class chimney scrambling. I think the far right gully wouldn't have worked out.

Gnats suck.

Moving on...

This whole route was pretty run out but we felt solid the whole time due to positive and easier climbing. There is a lot of new bolts (thanks!) that are bomber, a piton or two that I would feel sketchy hanging a plant from, and opportunity for exactly two pieces of gear (yellow TCU on 2nd pitch and brown tri-cam on 3rd pitch). Nothing else is really necessary cause of all the great shiny bolts. All the anchors are great.

Good anchor at the top of the first "pitch", although awkward for moving around one another for second pitch unless you're switching leads. Second pitch was great climbing - not neatly 5.6 though. The second anchor is awesomely exposed! I spent 10 minutes just trying to get a picture that would convey the fact that you are straddling a two foot wide piece of rock with a 100 foot drop-off on either side. (Side note: this picture is impossible to get really). Switching leaders is a bit awkward here as well due to the tiny ledge (chicken ledge) that you have to maneuver on. it's not impossible though.

Third pitch is the hardest climbing but is accurately rated 5.6 in my opinion. Found a large loose hold but all told, not too chossy; especially if you're used to Camelback, etc. Third pitch is amazing exposure! It'll get the best of them's hear pounding just a bit harder...in a good way.

Top anchor set-up is odd but bomber. We enjoyed the view and had a snack before rappelling. Two rope rappel. It was windy the day we went (very windy) so when we tossed our ropes (despite tossing them into the wind) one of them got hung up on a big ledge system under and to the climber's right of the rappel. (more on that in a moment) The rappel is almost free hanging in some parts and you have to land on a ledge (cave) and rappel past that. When we pulled our ropes (dues to the rope flying with the wind over to the right) it got very stuck. Luckily there is an easy scramble to the left of the rappel line where you can get to the massive cave and to where our rope caught.

Hike out was faster (obviously) and it was very nice to have cold running water at the end of the day. All told I believe it took us 5 hours and we were definitely taking our time.

Great day!

Amazing view and really fun route.