Ascent Notes for: Igor Unchained - 5.9 popular Average Rating : 4.42/5

did it in four pitches. walked a #2 for about 40 feet on the first pitch.

Did this route first, as a 'welcome to the Needles'. My partner and I had a great time on it. Its fairly sustained all the way to the top. I was initially a little intimidated leading P3, but fortunately a good hold showed up as it was needed.The pro seemed a bit tricky at the bottom, but soon was able to start plugging good gear. We used my 70m rope, and that worked well.

Given the majesty of the location and the great routes, its a surprising how few other climbers were around. Maybe the over-abundance of flies contributed to that - I don't know.

Fun hand crack. Not steep at all so a good intro to crack climbing.

Good hands, some moves around a bulge, some thin sections. Definately 5.9. Pretty good but nowhere near the best 5.9 or the hardest. Climbed the whole thing in one pitch, some sumuling. Looks better from the ground than what you find while climbing.

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The first pitch and the pitch above the ledge are awesome. Maybe the most perfect handcrack I've ever been on. Tight to wide hands with a funky offwidthy overlap to pull in the middle.

Really fun climbing. I led the 2nd and 4th pitch. First pitch is spectacular. I also think that the third pitch is really fun (though many people get on airy interlude instead).

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just as described above - consistent 5.9, solid jams or good holds out of nowhere when the jams peter out . . . loved the endless jams but the steep 3rd pitch was maybe even more fun, with good variety and plenty more good jams with other stuff mixed in. definitely sew it up as many features on the 3rd pitch would be brutalize your ass in a fall.