Lost Arrow Direct - beta request

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Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 20, 2008 - 03:03am PT
Anyone have info on Lost Arrow Direct?

can't quite put the route on the photo...
updated with info from del cross should be about right:


reddirt

climber
subarwu
Jun 20, 2008 - 07:08am PT
Imight have no biz posting this since I've not done this but...

Bargainhunter might be able to help?? I'll send him a msg... in the meantime:

http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~lukasc/adventures/lostarrowdirect.html


Lost Arrow Direct

Lost Arrow Spire Direct Route
(The Reid guidebook claims the rating is VI 5.11 A3, I'd say it's closer to V C2)

I climbed this route in June 1999, rope-soloing the first 4 pitches, then finishing the rest in a weekend with a Polish engineer named Lukas. If you sleep at the base, strong nightly winds rake the slopes starting about an a hour after sunset to just before sunrise and can make sleep unpleasant. It is also windy, but less so, on the ledges at night. There is a thin, slimy water seep a hundred yards or so up the slope (toward the Czech route) from the start of the climb. I don't know if lasts just seasonally or all summer and through the fall, but it was adequate to fill my water needs, although filling up five gallons took more than an hour.

While there is plenty of potential for exciting free-climbing, we aided most of the climb and did it entirely clean. The rack consisted of 16 cams ranging from the small blue Alien to the big green Camalot, plus about 2 sets of nuts, including brass/copper nuts and few large hexes. Also necessary were a leeper cam hook, a bat hook, and a regular cliffhanger hook. You may want to bring doubles of the hooks as several sections have consecutive hook moves. Don't bring heads, they aren't necessary and you will only end up scaring the rock. There are about 5 fixed heads on the entire route and each one can be replaced by a nut if necessary.

There is a brief description of the route with a few photos in the 1968-69(?) American Alpine Journal written by Pat Callis who, with Warren Harding, was the first ascensionist.

If you are unfamiliar with the approach, don't do it at night. While it's mostly a straighforward scramble, a misstep at the wrong spot could prove fatal. I think it's better to break up your loads and do multiple carries than to huff it once with a monster load.

Special note: Despite it's relative "remoteness", the east base of the Yosemite Falls Wall still has an alarming eyesore of litter, mostly in the form of dropped cans, webbing, poo bags and water bottles. When humping loads in or rapping out, consider making a donation to your Karma Retirement Fund by collecting a little trash and taking it out with you.

Pitch 1 - Used a leeper cam hook for pro on the traverse.

Pitch 2 - A tatty bolt ladder missing many bolts, with some cam pro at the beginning and end. Some bolt holes have nail nubbins hammered in which can be looped with a small nut. I used a cheat stick twice, and a bat hook and cliffhanger a couple of times.

Pitch 3 - A single 50m rope will reach the ground from the beginning of this pitch (swing over toward climber's right and land on the big blocks at the base and you will just make it). Big #5 Camalot was useful here. The pitch ends with two anchors within 20 feet of each other. I'd recommend passing the first one and using the second one, the ledge is better. Haul bag got stuck twice here, had to rap both times to free it.

Pitch 4 - This pitch is short. Do not go up the easy cracks immediately at the left at the second anchor, rather stay in main chimney/dihedral for another 20 feet and then go left at an easy traversing crack which leads up to the ledge. Be aware of rotten granite, I took a daisy fall here when a cam pulled out. The short bolt ladder indicated on the topo does not exist; it's a three bolt anchor, which you may already be using as a belay. Large flat ledge with first class view of falls and valley. Plenty of room for gear and can sleep 3 people easily, many more if you cram. It's big enough to saunter around comfortably unroped. Careful hauling over the coarse granite. I ruined my haul line here trying to extend my pulley out over the edge- completely ripped the core off, leaving just the frayed inner strands. Haul bag got stuck twice here again, had to rap again and free it. Ledge is sandy.

Pitch 5 and 6- Back-cleaned the pendulums to make it easier for the second.

Pitch 7 - This would be an enjoyable free pitch if you can climb 5.11

Pitch 8 - Grunt offwidth and chimney pitch, ending in another expansive flat ledge large enough for your extended family. Mice live here too.

Pitch 9 - From below, this pitch appears to be an intimidating blank vertical face. I got a glimpse of it just before the sun set and spent an anxious night suffering from anticipatory "ground grip". I discovered in the morning that my fears were unfounded, as hangerless bolts and bat hook holes abounded. Have all of your hooks ready, you will use them. Ends in a comfortable, surprisingly hidden belay ledge.

Pitch 10 - Crux of the climb is 20 feet above belay, you may have to bat hook the brittle holes of a couple fixed, rusty RURPs. No big deal, pro below is good and a fixed piton up and to your left invites security. The pitch evolves into a punishing offwidth/grunt chimney. You will lose skin and grumble unpleasantries while finishing this one.

Pitch 11 - A splitter 1" crack launches vertically off the belay. The end of the pitch is overhung. The belayer here can squeeze back into the "shade cave" to avoid the sun.

Pitch 12 - Short pitch, some hooking, horn looping and nutting down low, and fixed micro-copper heads above. If the heads happen to blow, you can easily use RP's, tiny nuts, or cam hooks to continue. Ends in another comfy ledge. Cam hook useful to supplement the anchor. The first anchor of the Rohrer rappel route lies about 6 feet below this ledge.

Pitch 13 - Easy 5.6 scramble to the notch. Several options here on how to end the climb: climb the tip and/or climb fixed ropes out of the notch to the rim; aid/free climb your way to the rim; rappel the Rohrer rap route.

We got to the notch and discovered that the ropes we had fixed from the rim two nights before were inaccessible, so we ended up rapping the Rohrer route. Tucker Tech professed that climbing the final 2 pitches to the rim were "not straight-forward" A3 and/or 5.10ow; adding that he ascended it pitonless after climbing the Lost Arrow Chimney and discovering, like us, that anticipated fixed ropes were not present.

I was intimidated at the thought of rappeling down the unknown face as I am paranoid about stuck ropes. I anxiously envisioned us hanging from a rusty anchor midway down the wall, pathetically ensconced like giant slabs of beef jerky slowly desiccating in the 90+ degree heat as our futile cries for help were drowned by the roar of the falls.

Fortunately, the Roherer rappel route prove to be a no-brainer, and we made it down without a hitch, leaving only a bolt hanger and a couple of pieces of sling behind to supplement the in situ fixed chain rap anchors. We employed double 50m ropes, but preferred to break up the rappels with intermediate anchors when we found them in order to preclude stuck ropes. Beware of the occasional lose block; there are some very big ones waiting to go which will happily take you along with them.
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 10:44am PT
thanks for posting that reddirt, found it on a Google search earlier...
...I also have the Roper description, but I was going for a "phototopo" from all the info. Seems like the upper pitches (11-14) might be easier to find on the rock than through any description...
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 11:23am PT
THANKS!

that stuff does look decomposed... the image can be good even if the picture isn't (if you know what I mean)...

del cross, you holding out on us?! no trip report??

ASCA had reported that all the bolts had been replaced....
oops, maybe not "all"

from http://www.safeclimbing.org/areas/california/yosemitebigwalls.htm

Lost Arrow Direct Almost all lead and belay bolts bomber 2003 Jack Hoeflaich


Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member
Jun 20, 2008 - 11:23am PT
Great photos!

Here is the lost arrow direct beta page:

http://www.supertopo.com/rockclimbing/route.html?r=yblaladi

don't be shy posting beta there too! (or on any of the route beta pages. makes searching for beta for those routes a lot easier in the future - as opposed to mining through the forum)
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 11:27am PT
you're right Chris... thanks for linking over there...
I'll correct the annotation on the picture later, and post it there...

Anyone else familiar with it should help out.. please!
Prod

Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
Jun 20, 2008 - 01:35pm PT
The approach is tough to find from the ground up, but when we bailed it was really easy to see that we needed to stay further left than we thought as you start to work your way up off of the bench, lots.

The wind, flat out, freaked Christa and I out. We found a nice flat spot just above the woods, pitched a tent. It's evening and breezy maybe 10 knots. I'm thinking, no biggy, this isn't "Windy". Give it a few hours. At one point it gusted so hard that as the tent pitched it lifted Christa off the ground, at that point I looked out my side of the tent, the way we were being blown, down a pretty steep skree slope. That'd hurt was the first thought I had. There goes the concept of sleeping. We switched sides and I was able to grab a rock through the door with my left hand and toe hook another rock through the tent with my left foot. Oh well, after that we met a bunch of cool folks at the Facelift.

Sorry for the thread drift.

Prod.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Jun 20, 2008 - 01:57pm PT
Ed,

Do you have a photo of the wall to the right of the Arrow Direct? I'd like to make an overlay/topo of the Rohrer rappel route. (I haven't actually done it yet, but plan to help Tom refurbish it in August).
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 02:44pm PT
Clint, I do have a set of shots covering that wall out to Yosemite Point Buttress, but it is in the shade of the buttress... I'll put the larger mosaic together with those panels and post it on my site later.... I'll alert you all when I do...
Watusi

Social climber
Newport, OR
Jun 20, 2008 - 03:21pm PT
Cool route! I did this in '82 with "Swiss Michi" Wyser and "Punk" Roy Galvin...Partied up and there so I don't really remember all that much...Maybe "Wonder" (Roy) might have some ideas...
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 10:40pm PT
still not sure where 1 should be... but moved the rest around... see the OP image, you may have to "refresh"

I'll work on Clint's assignment after dinner
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 11:54pm PT
The Arrow Direct

V, 5.8, A.3. This somewhat contrived route up the 1,400-foot face of the Lost Arrow was first climbed in June 1968 by Pat Callis and Warren Harding. Rope up about 40 feet to the right of giant blocks which lie against the face. Ascend an easy jamcrack for 40 feet, then traverse left (5.7), and climb to a belay bolt. Using bolts, hooks and pins, work up 125 feet to an excellent belay ledge at the base of the chimney system which forms the right side of First Error. Two pitches (5.9 and 5.8, A2) lead to the large ledge atop the Error. On the 5th pitch, climb a bolt ladder to an A1 crack, pendulum right to another crack and nail to a sling belay above roofs. Continue nailing, then pendulum right to a beautiful crack system which is followed for two and a half pitches to excellent ledges atop Second Error. Pitch 9: using hooks and bolts, work up a 70-foot blank wall, then traverse right (5.7) to a small belay ledge below a right-facing open book. Nail this book to a sloping ledge on the left, near the top of a giant flake called First Terror. On the 11th pitch nail a crack on the right, then pendulum right and nail an overhanging crack to a large belay hole. An A3 pitch leads up and right to a large, blocky ledge. Pitch 13: bolts and hooks lead up and left to a small belay ledge at the base of a detached flake known as Second Terror (if the reader is getting tired of these names, it is understandable). Chimney behind this flake, then follow bolts, holes, and 5.8 jamming to Salathe Ledge on the Arrow Tip route. Two pitches lead to the summit. Iron: 50 pitons, including 7 each of 3/4", 1" and 1 1/2" angles, 10 bongs, up to 4", should be carried.

-Steve Roper, Climber's Guide to Yosemite Valley 1971
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 21, 2008 - 12:53am PT
for Clint... click on the picture for the 3MB version

Captain...or Skully

Big Wall climber
Yonder
Jun 21, 2008 - 12:58am PT
Ed, that is a great pic. I really love that section of Valley Wall, The Spire, the falls, etc..
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 21, 2008 - 01:14am PT
I love that place too, went up there in 1971 when I was 17 years old to climb that thing. Never once thought that it might be too hard, having been put up 3 years earlier. Didn't succeed on that attempt.

But going up there today is almost like time travel for me...
Pakdong

climber
Jun 21, 2008 - 02:49am PT
Did it as a team of three a few years back, sure helped with the hauling, which really sucks since the route either is slabby or is in a chimney/corner for max-friction. Get some friends to rap in and meet you at the notch for the traverse on your summit day, there's always people who want to do this in camp 4, and why not? It's Classic!

You'll need two medium beaks for pitch 10(the pitch after the bolt ladder traverse) for leap-frog/clean beaking in a seam in the back of a dihedral. Camhooks and offset aliens are useful for pitch 11. We had a 2 old style #4.5 and one #5 camalot and used them! There is lots of free climbing possibility, so if you are up to some, at times, thrutchy 5.9 you'll be great. There's some great 5.10 as well.

No ledge is needed as there's a 5 star hotel every 4 pitches.

Watch out for sneaky ravens!
k-man

Gym climber
SCruz
Jun 21, 2008 - 12:56pm PT
Ed,
I did the route about a year ago--Spring '07 (well, almost did the route). The going is pretty obvious, we didn't use any pins, but did use hooks.

If you want to do the real direct, pitches 13 & 14 go up the outer face (instead of going into the notch).

My buddy lead pitch 13, after I failed on it due to my "short reach." That was part of the problem. The other part is that the bolt ladder is mostly blown out. My buddy did some sketchy hooking to arrive at the belay and proclaim "I'm not hauling off these bolts!!" After which he rapped and we went into the notch.

Long story short, if you want to do the direct, be prepared to replace a bolt or two on the upper pitches.

Other than that, I had a great time. Best belay ledges...



Here's a couple more photos, perhaps repostings:



Great way to start the day:

Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Jun 21, 2008 - 01:00pm PT
Wow, Ed - thanks for the expanded photo. This will be very helpful for describing the rappel route. Very beautiful up there, too!
F10 Climber F11 Drinker

Trad climber
medicated and flat on my back
Jun 21, 2008 - 01:34pm PT

k-man,

can you post up a few more photo's
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 23, 2008 - 10:51pm PT
nice k-man!
and thanks for looking it over del cross... I updated the photo again...
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 25, 2008 - 12:01am PT
anyone know what's up with the AAJ search page?

clicking on the link: http://www.americanalpineclub.org/AAJO/

produces the message:




AAJ search is offline for maintenance, please check back soon. Return to previous page.




accessing the AAJ seems possible if you have the exact file name, but I'm looking for Pat Callis' 1969 AAJ article on this climb and can't guess the correct file name...
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Jun 25, 2008 - 12:53am PT
It's been offline for a few days now.

All I could find was the photos from the 1969 AAJ, which has a photo of the cliff (with no line for the climb) on p.67 and a couple of photos of Harding on p.68.

http://www.americanalpineclub.org/AAJO/pdfs/1969/photos1969aaj.pdf
Tom

Big Wall climber
San Luis Obispo CA
Jun 25, 2008 - 08:32pm PT
Watch out for the notorious Hurricane Jingus that suddenly erupts just after dark. As the warm air rises and venturi-hugs the walls of the amphitheater, it swirls itself into this crazy vortex that is strong enough to pull lit cigarettes and campfires downhill and into the dry brush in the sand slopes below. As I recall, the wind comes from the Falls toward the Arrow, and roars until long into the night. You might want to take the wind-chill into account when planning for bivi gear. The Hurricane runs at about 10-20 mph, and the Second Error is right in the blast.
nboles

Trad climber
fremont. ca
Jun 26, 2008 - 01:09pm PT
The wind is no joke ... winter or summer it blows from just after sun set to sunrise. Its like clock work.
If Clint is re-bolting the rap route with Tom Rohrer, he should get the info on the East chimney route.
That climb may have been established by Rohrer some time in the distant past. I freed the first pitch or two until the rivet ladders start, then it goes up to the east side chimney, more or less following the rap route.
When I put up the Pointless, up high I swung into the chimney and free climbed easy but funky rock with ancient fixed gear and short rivet ladders. There may be no more obscure route in the valley than this one.

norman
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Jun 26, 2008 - 03:53pm PT
Norman,

Cool - we'll check out the East Chimney.
Off White

climber
Tenino, WA
Jun 26, 2008 - 05:55pm PT
It's one of the few walls I've ever done, back around Nov. 81. We were a party of three, possibly the slowest ascent on record with three nights on the spacious ledges. One (late) morning on the Second Error, two guys came by racing up the chimney, looked over at the three of us still in our bags passing a joint back and forth, and blurted with aghast looks plastered to their mugs, "what are you guys doing???

Oh, so in terms of beta, I'd suggest you leave most of the weed behind.
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 24, 2008 - 05:06pm PT
California- Yosemite
Lost Arrow, Direct Route. On June 21, after 4 1/2 days, Warren Harding and I completed what seemed to us an exceptionally esthetic new route on the Lost Arrow. It follows a nearly vertical line for the entire 1400 feet from base to tip, a line which, for the most part, appears completely blank from the Valley floor. I understand it was Herb SwedIund who conceived of the possibility of this route. He and Warren had climbed some 200 feet of it the preceding autumn but had to turn back. The route is built upon four main features which, besides contributing to the feasibility, lend an appealing continuity. These are three pinnacles and a tower. For the benefit of those not familiar with Yosemite climbing terminology, a pinnacle is an isolated flake (or the beginning of one) with a ledge on top. Consistent with this definition is that if there exists the hint of a notch separating the flake from the main wall (that is if one cannot chimney or lieback right to the summit) then it is called a tower. The first two pinnacles are called First Error and Second Error; they are 400 and 800 feet above the ground respectively. Both have large ledges and are well known to those who have climbed the classic Arrow Chimney route, the deep cleft forming the left side of the Lost Arrow. This is because both may be reached by climbing about 100 feet out of the Chimney. Although not visible from the Valley floor, there is a fine crack system connecting these two pinnacles. Two hundred feet above Second Error is a graceful tower and 200 feet higher is a 30-foot detached flake; we named these two First and Second Terror respectively. (The latter might also be called Last Error). Second Terror is only 100 feet below Salathe Ledge which is on the regular route to the Arrow’s summit via the notch. The route utilizes the right side of each of these features. We bivouacked on First Error, Second Error (twice), and Second Terror (an uncomfortable place relative to the others). There were some blank areas in between which required bolting but the labor of this was considerably reduced by a technique which Warren, with characteristic imagination, had developed. This involved using Chouinard cliffhangers in short bolt holes instead of placing bolts. Bolts were used only as dictated by safety. Thus only 21 bolts were placed although 55 holes were drilled. (A fear of being short of hangers caused us to leave 4 or 5 bolts without hangers on the first pitch; the nuts were left however.) Several factors make the climb an especially enjoyable one. First of all is the setting. The Arrow has long been an attractive challange to climbers and on this route its tip is almost constantly in view. It is next to impossible to put into words the pleasure of watching the nearby falls during the endless belays. It is a comfortable climb. There are no less than five large ledges on which it is possible for two or more climbers to sleep stretched out. (Besides First and Second Error and Salathe Ledge there is one just below Second Error and another just below Second Terror.) Finally, the climbing is continuously interesting; not one of the 14 pitches is fourth class. Though often exhilarating, the climbing is never severe nor horrifying. Technical Notes: NCCS VI, F8, A3; Necessary equipment includes 2 4-inch bongs and 3 Chouinard cliffhangers ground down to fit 1/4-inch bolt holes.
There are several long pitches of direct aid.
PATRIK CALLIS
[url="http://www.americanalpineclub.org/AAJO/pdfs/1969/unitedstates1969_371-403.pdf"]American Alpine Journal, 1969 page 371[/url]

Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Sep 8, 2008 - 02:24am PT
Where do you park the car while you're on the route?

yu-min

Big Wall climber
california, san diego
Sep 8, 2008 - 02:51am PT
Tried a few months ago, Second terror is HUGE, even set up a tent on that ledge... the wind had it in our face the whole night but it made for a good story. (night gusts are CRAZY) I would def bring a few rivet hangers and a hook
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 2, 2008 - 01:48am PT
seems that this coming weekend is a no-go...
...maybe in the spring.
lunchbox

Trad climber
santa cruz, ca
Oct 2, 2008 - 04:04am PT
Hey K-man,

We did this route in June 2007 and went left at pitch 13. The bolts in the ladder are ugly but Second Terror is so worth it. God I wish I had a pic of the view you get from that chimney! Definitely worth the trouble.

You can back up that sketchy belay of Star-Drives with #3 and #4 camalots. The belay bolts are in great shape but do not inspire confidence when compared with today's fatties.

It was cold and windy at night in June.
BooYah

Social climber
Ely, Nv
May 4, 2010 - 10:51pm PT
We parked by the Ranger showers.
3 days. That route is a blast. The wind howls at night.
Lambone

Ice climber
Ashland, Or
Apr 23, 2012 - 12:36pm PT
Kind of a dumb question, but let's say you were going to do the tyrolean finish. How would you go about dealing with the haulbag? Haul them across the tyrolean also I suppose?
Lambone

Ice climber
Ashland, Or
Apr 23, 2012 - 12:47pm PT
Well there ya go!
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
Feb 11, 2014 - 12:08pm PT
Any word on bolt replacement on this thing? Some of the earlier comments have me wondering. All good or should someone come fully prepared. Would like to try a 1 day on it so hoping to travel as light as possible.

Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Feb 11, 2014 - 01:12pm PT
Kind of a dumb question, but let's say you were going to do the tyrolean finish. How would you go about dealing with the haulbag? Haul them across the tyrolean also I suppose?

Yes you haul it across. Not as bad as hauling your partner across after they can't figure things out. lol.

There is a variation that avoids the bad bolts. Supertopo variation is documented really well IN Big Walls guidebook and is accurate.
cultureshock

Trad climber
Mountain View
Feb 11, 2014 - 01:37pm PT
V, can you give an estimate of how many bolts need to be replaced?

Was thinking this of putting this on my to-do list.

Thanks!

Luke
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
Feb 11, 2014 - 01:38pm PT
It seems your the man V. One last question...that is before I pull the trigger and buy some Supertopo beta. I'm kind of old and beat up, and hanging off my shoulders in overhanging sections is something I like to keep to a minimum. Any recollections on any overhanging sections that aren't aid, like how overhanging and how long are they. You know all that overhanging stuff in the gyms...that stuff just ruins me. It seems like there is one section of hand crack, it's not more than 15 feet or so, and it's not much past vertical? I've told my invitee I'm in, but I want to make sure I got a shot at this ASAP so he can get someone else if I'm out.

yea, I know I'm a puss.

wstmrnclmr

Trad climber
Bolinas, CA
Feb 11, 2014 - 02:51pm PT
Jaywood did the climb recently and would be a good source of info.
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Feb 11, 2014 - 03:50pm PT
I posted a TR about our climb:
http://www.supertopo.com/tr/Lost-Arrow-Spire-Direct-Cragger-and-Taper-get-WORKED/t11743n.html

Variation we took had no bad bolts at all. There were several rivet hangers required on route, but that's all. We did not take the original LASD exit though, that's where the bad bolts are. See Klaus' comment on my TR.

There was maybe only one a bit overhanging, but not very strenuous section. What was strenuous is aiding parts in wide cracks, even though as I remember I free climbed most of that. It is a really fun route. Was tough for me and my partner because we were total big wall noobs when we did it. Was first time hauling and sleeping on a wall for us. My aiding experience was 1st pitch of Gold Wall, La Esquella and some crack at Church Bowl. So doing this route was a big step up. Hope the beta helps and this route is a must do IMHO.

Now who wants to do Lost Arrow Chimney with me?! >:)
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
Feb 11, 2014 - 04:22pm PT
Cool. That's what I thought. Looks like I'm in all the way. Thanks. The other guy has done the route in the 70's. But I trust his memory like I trust my own. Just wanted to make sure.
Alexey

climber
San Jose, CA
Feb 11, 2014 - 05:41pm PT
Vitaliy,
I climbed Lost Arrow Chimney two years ago with Zander , and was completely trashed. We bivi 30 feet below the notch, and next day I almost faint on decent. I sit down eat all my remaining foot, than eat all Zander's remaining foot, and only after that proceed.
I'll do it again with you in the summer long day. I was so busy last time that missed Harding hole, not to climb it, but just to see how it looks
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
Feb 11, 2014 - 05:47pm PT
My friend Gleb wanted to do it with me, but if he is not into it this summer, will email you for sure!! It looks like an awesome route. Seems like a step up from Steck Salathe.
j-tree

Big Wall climber
Classroom to crag to summer camp
Feb 11, 2014 - 07:56pm PT
Why climb Lost Arrow when Hurricane Jingus is right there Vitaly?
Cannon

Trad climber
Murrieta, CA
Apr 7, 2014 - 04:08am PT
How long did it take to climb. I see two days. And I see four days. Two days would mean, one night at the notch, summit, then traverse to the rim or rap. Four days would mean bivy at 4/8/notch, then summit, traverse/rap. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers
Bargainhunter

climber
Apr 7, 2014 - 06:33am PT
Skcreidc, it's been 15 years since I climbed it, but don't recall any overhanging bits up to the notch, and very little mandatory free climbing.

Cannon, times are operator dependent. The ledges are so great to camp on that I'd recommend not rushing it and chilling as much as you can for the full Valley wall experience . Great views! Though, there are the notorious nightly winds...
TheSpeedoBandido

climber
Apr 23, 2014 - 05:23pm PT
Hey, has anyone tried throwing a rope between the tip and the main wall? Either from the main wall to the tip, or the other way around? My friend and I want to do LA direct, and have some friends meet us up at the top - the thing is, our friends don't want to rap down into the notch and climb the tip with us - they just want to do the tyrolean over to the tip. If we were on the tip, do you think they could chuck a rope out to us to set up the tyrolean?

Also - is that tree anchor for the tyrolean on the main wall bomber, or should they bring some pro to back it up?

Thanks!
~Will
TGT

Social climber
So Cal
Apr 23, 2014 - 06:13pm PT
Did the tip only back around 70-71. There were four of us, but since we only had one set of jumars, drew straws for who would do the climb and who would toss the rope over and tyrolean. I was one of the winners and got to do the climb. The guy I did it with was named Jim McCarthy, (Not THE! Jim McCarthy!) Much younger guy.

I think we caught the rope on about the third try. It wasn't all that difficult a rope toss. It's down hill quite a bit from rim to tip. A stiff wind might complicate that. YMMV.

There was a group of high school age climbers in camp 4 that had hiked up to watch and they all rode the tyrolian over. With that much manpower we had a half dozen haulers running on the rim with a tag line. We had people flying back and forth from tip to rim all afternoon and caused a traffic jam in the valley. When tourists started wandering over from the falls overlook and asking how much we charged for a ride over we figured it was time to shut it down.

I think somewhere I have a copy of Andy Embic's hand drawn topo from his ascent when Roy Nazz broke his leg and he ended up soloing out of the notch the year before.

If I can find it, I'll scan it and post. It sounds like this route has changed quite a bit over the years. It might make an interesting comparison.
Cannon

Trad climber
Murrieta, CA
Oct 4, 2014 - 01:29pm PT
the guide book talks about beaks and hammers. any one have any beta on a rack to bring? i am not planning on bringing a hammer. talk to me about gear to bring
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