Ascent Notes for: Dark Shadows - 5.8 Average Rating : 4.44/5

felt like Gunks 5.7

When cold and windy, this climb lives up to its name. Swung leads with Ladybug. We combined the first two pitches and did it in 3. She got the money pitch this time.

Not sure why the remainder of this route is left out, but we did at least 4-5 more pitches. Awesome route and my first @ RR. Route finding on the descent a little tricky. Note that on the final belay, you'll need a 70m rope! We came up about 20' short of the ground so had to improvise...

It was about an hour approach in with the blazing sun out, around 11am. Once there at the base, shade. The first pitch was in the sun. We combined the 1st and 2nd pitches into one. Shade all the way up. Bring some water and snacks during the heat of the day, it will help.
No matter what precautions you make, your rope will get wet. I must improve my trad skills, because I wouldn't mind leading this.

Reason for R, after the 6th pitch, it's easy to get off route leading to fun varied and exciting climbing!

Fun all the way to the top, last 150ft is a bushy and crumbly, so becareful!

Recommended variation, look for a 5.8 offwidth leading to a treeledge, just before the 4th class up, totally worth doing!

The decent down is not too bad, but is long and the gully rappels can be a rope eater! (We had to cut ours!) Plan at least 2-4 hours for the descent out! (We took the South way....)

led p1 & 2 together. allison led the rest.

3rd pitch was so nice. =)
climbing above the water in the desert was amazing
very happy place

out w/ mark. led p's 1&3

My hit list to climb to the top some time in the future

Great, everyone should do this at least once. Lots of good rests and gear placements.