Braving the Elven Archers

Taking in some of the most unique terrain in the Storm Mountain area,

Braving the Elven Arches

starts on Hidden Fortress’ north face, swings around to its east face, then finishes on the blunt arête demarcating the two. The initial two bolts' worth of climbing is somewhat meh, but it gets much better higher.

(1) Climb over a small bulge protected by a hidden bolt left of the Taylor-Contor line (if it seems necky to clip, a horn can be slinged to reach it) and coninute past more bolts to a hands-free stance at the base of a left-facing dihedral under the first of the massive roofs on the left side of the north face.  (This stance is also the belay for the

Mountaineer’s Route

, but don’t belay here).  Make a few moves up the dihedral until possible to step left under the roof past another bolt and around the corner to a cool ledge on the east face and a two-bolt belay (Metolius rap anchors).  The traverse past the last bolt involves stepping on a large cammed flake.  Use your own judgment, but the flake wouldn’t budge with a 3-foot-long crowbar.  (75')

(2) Follow the bolts with tan hangers, past a cruxy but well-protected section, to reach the blunt arête above the second huge roof on the left side of the north face.  Continue following the tan hangers up the blunt arête to the top, belaying from the summit bolts on

Trolls at the Gate

. (70').

Only line of tan bolt anchors left of the Taylor-Contor route.  To descend, rap

Trolls at the Gate.

It is also possible to rap the route by using a set of anchors just below the summit for the first rap, but the

Trolls

rappel is probably better because it avoids rapping down a vegetation-choked gully to get to the ground and the pulls may be easier.

Ten draws for each pitch should be more than enough.