Cardiac Arête

Cardiac Arête is a beginner outdoor route for climbers wanting to introduce themselves to new climbing techniques. The start is a simple two handed start, up to a positive crimp on the right, and then out left to the base of the first arête. The first crux is a static right hand move to a small crimp on the adjacent face of the first arête. The second crux will be laybacking the crack in between the arêtes, working hand over hand to the top; be careful with your feet placement. There is no way to top out. The last move is a single hand touch to the slanted rock face above both arêtes.

Take the trail head at Partington Cove off Highway 1 (you can park along the highway). Walk down the dirt path and you will arrive at a crossroads. Go straight at the crossroad toward the beach, do not go left to cross a wooden bridge (if you've found yourself in a wooden tunnel you've gone the wrong way). Going straight at the crossroads will lead you past a warning sign about surf of unusual size and force. Follow this path down to a rocky beach. Looking at the water, the boulder will be to the right of the beach, almost at the waters edge. High-tide may prevent access to the start, but at midday, the tide was not an issue. The start is an arrowhead shaped horn hold about 3 feet above the ground. The route moves left around an arête and up a crack between two arêtes. Make sure to bring a crash pad or two. The surrounding ground is large boulders and rocks, would hurt very badly to fall without protection.