R.I.P.

Forest Dramis and I established a new route on the SE Face of the Tombstone. The route is overnhanging much of the way, requires a lot of different aid techiniques, and has a 1 minute approach. Why it had not been done before baffles me, but it hadn't. We put in double half inch bolt rappels, free hanging, to get off the thing, Its definitely the beast way down as it is a fun 180 foot free hanging rappel where your rope is very unlikely to get stuck. The route is called R.I.P.... probably 5.10b A2+P1 (5.10b, 80 ft.)starts on the left side of the huge flake at the base of the middle of the S.E Face... right above the parking lot. Climb over a small roof then up and offwidth corner with a couple of bolts for gear. Good ledge at the belayP2 (A2+, 90 ft.) strait up the thin crack for 40 plus feet. Mostly LA's and blades at the start with the odd thin angle. Then friends of all sizes, your own dowels or removeable bolts, and a few bolts. Ends at another small ledge.P3 (A2+ 90 ft.)traverses on 4 bolts to the right to a knifeblade crack. There are a few fixed pieces. Over a roof, into a corner, then scramble to the summit. Gotto use a lot of different stuff here, including a rotten hook move (reachy spot). Use a big hook. Need lots of slings to lower rope drag. Belay on the summit.This climb was on some of the softest rock we have climbed on in the desert. We drilled a few holes for bolts to catch us if a whole line of thin pins pulled. Unfortuneately the holes collapsed! This left them as dowel holes. Half inch removeable bolts might work in them, but other wise, you need to carry a few 3/8 inch by 2 inch machine bolts to hand place in the holes. Don't pull out! The route could be A2, or it could be A4. Hard to tell until you fall on one of those pieces!

Sam

10 LA's (various)10 knife blades (various)2 x 1/2 inch angles2 x 5/8 inch angles1 x 3/4 inch angle1 x 3/8 by 2 inch machine bolt for dowel hole hookingmedium to large nuts1 set of friends to #5