Ascent Notes for: Crystal Lizard - 5.8 Average Rating : 3.67/5

Followed someone up this one for the second time. Not really fun and I definitely would not want to lead it.

Felt quite heady and definitely deserved a 5.8+. Feel like the first bolt is off-route too far and slinging the tree is a better idea to stay in the line of crystals. Traversing over to that bolt and back feels harder than 5.8. Run out goodness but solid feet the whole climb.

bit of mind control, but reasonable

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Since there is a large amount of rock between Crystal Lizard and U-Slot, I decided to change it up a bit. I started at the left side of the tree pods instead of the right. At the dikes, I went left and straight up through steeper, mostly blank, unprotected rock to the overlap. I went up and over the right side of the overlap and headed to the belay for U-Slot rather than the belay shared with Rice Krispies. I found this method to be more exciting and a little stiffer than the standard line.

After a day of toproping some of my friends on the Block Route while waiting on my climbing partner to arrive, this was the first of three routes we chose for the day. Its great climbing in June, very few climbers and no waiting for routes. We were the only climbers on the rock and it was a Saturday.

I started just to the right of the tree pods and climbed straight up to the dikes that are angled up to the right. I didn't bother with the bolt, it seems too far out of place. The first time I climbed the route, I climbed more to the right and used the bolt but I no longer bother with it since the holds are so good at the dikes. I followed the dikes up to the overlap and set a cam underneath it as my first protection. This may seem a bit too far to go without protection, but again, the holds are so nice that I had no fear of falling. After setting the cam, I headed up over the overlap and headed towards the next bolt. From there, just head straight up to the Rice Krispies belay. The guidebook shows the route going to the left of here but there is nothing but vegetation and downed trees between the Rice Krispies belay and the belay for U-Slot. You should have litle trouble with this route. I recommend lead climbing these routes, toproping does not do them justice.

This one freaked me out and I wasn't leading. What the heck, if this is 5.8 then the Block Route is 5.2. Anyway, I guess I'll try to sack up and lead it next time.

Lead this , best if you use 4' slings at flake placements and 2nd bolt near top, easier ? than Block ? Maybe.

Not sure why the 1st bolt is a spicy traverse right then back left unless its to keep you off the trees if you fall, but the crystal dikes are easy to climb , runout to your 1st placement but doesn't seem to be too heady. Good ,quick alternate for access to ledge.

accidentally went up and right after the first bolt. it wasn't fun at the time, but was certainly one of my proudest leads...