The Pitts

The Pitts is an overhanging hand crack about 200' off the ground on the left side of the crag--left of the North Face Route. This good climb is hardly ever done due to the requisite approach pitches; the most hideous in Boulder Canyon. The horrible approach gully can now be avoided by climbing P1 of Bell Air.

Pitch 1: 5.9, 160', 12 bolts, med. cams, 3 bolt anchor. Unless you want to suffer through the original gully pitches (negative 3 on a 3 star scale), you should approach The Pitts via Bell Air (see description).

P2: 5.11b, 75', units to 3", 2 bolt anchor. Climb into a short corner then up the steep hand crack to the top. Carefully protect the overhanging crack to start (units, 1.5 Friend), then move right, up a slab for 8'. Make a committing swing left on an obvious horn into the main crack where you'll get solid pro the rest of the way. Though the pitch isn't very long, it's one of the better cracks in Boulder Canyon.

Descent: Walk off the top or return to the belay anchor below the last pitch, then rap twice to the ground. Rap #1: 50' down the slab to bolts in a V-slot about 10' right (west) of P1. Rap #2: 80' to the ground.

Hopefully this pitch will get done more now that the approach has improved and you don't have to walk off the top. You might as well do P2 of Bell Air while you're up there.

About 15 draws, gear through 3" (dbl 1.5"-2").