The Original Orange Crush

What follows is the historical description. See Orange Crush - retrobolted for the modern version as it is now climbed.

The original climb was done to breach the left or west side of this cliff. It was a difficult lead to get gear into. Another one of those contrived gear placements routes where falling wasn’t optional at the beginning and near to the top of the first pitch. It took a long time to put the gear in near the end of the first pitch while water continuously dripped on my head. I eventually grew weary of the situation. I had to to get over the short head wall bulge left of me, up to the belay ledge. Bill followed up and made the headwall look easy by moving further to the left than I had. We rappelled from there because he was intimidated by the steepness ahead of us. Bill and I named the climb, Orange Crush after the soda and lichen on the cliff, but we were drinking Orangina on that day, and because if I had fallen anywhere on that pitch the gear would likely have failed. I would have been crushed by the fall by the rocks below this pitch. After that I rappelled down to check out the climbing above the first pitch and placed pitons in a precarious place to what would become the direct finish to Orange Crush (Chinese Water Torture). I also placed one pin on the second pitch of Orange Crush’s soon to be second pitch. Then Tom Bowker came with me to finish the intimidating steep walls above the first pitch, Bill and I did. I led the whole climb moving right and up for the 2nd pitch and doing the third pitch almost in the dark that had difficult gear placements. Then I came to the hardest move on the climb. After that it was finished. Tom was mentally challenged climbing it and taking the gear out finishing the climb in the dark.

The climb begins directly above or ahead to where the new staircase has been placed. Once on the rock traverse right awkwardly (5-6) clipping (you have to be kidding me) pins. After the traverse move up into vegetated area with some decent protection. From there move up and left to a notch and finagle some opposition protection into the rock cavities. Move up and left over bulge (5-7+) or move further left to the v-groove (5-6). Belay on the long horizontal ledge. Move right to the inside corner facing left and climb it to the second belay ledge (5-8-). From this ledge move up and left to overhanging set of bulges. Go through these bulges surprisingly easy (5-6) and well protected but it was strenuous to create the opposition placements of small wires necessary. After the bulges enter the brown dike. Run it out a little until in the center of the dike is a vertical pocket (5-8). Originally a weird looking angle pin was nailed into it. Later the pin was removed because a Tri-cam fit more securely. This is an awfully scary spot but the fear can be diminished if you'll look to the left, there is a good sloped hold for your left hand to grasp onto (slightly dirty, blow on it first). Make a high step up and move left off of the dike to make a belay or continue up to the blueberry ledges above this cliff. If you go to the top hearing each other is difficult.

I very much enjoyed this climb. I enjoyed it's steepness at a moderate grade. I climbed it regularly. All of the climbers that liked clean rock besides Tom Bowker didn't do this route. I don't recall anyone else leading it then, though. This will never be a climb for a (5-8) is your highest ability as a traditional climber. The falls in many places would be injurious regardless of whether the protection held or not.

The climb begins directly above or ahead to where the new staircase has been placed. That is below this side of Orange Crush Cliff. We walked off west and down to this new staircase. Then there was no rope or staircase to this section of our descent trail.

Mostly small to medium stoppers and up to medium large Tri-cams, friends may work also, Aliens would definitely work best in some placements.