Orbital Decay

Orbital Decay

climbs a bolt line that catches the right edge of the huge roof band that cuts across the center buttress of Strone Crag. Three bolts protect gently overhanging climbing to a short slab under the roof band. Surmounting the crux roof is protected by two bolts, then it's easy sailing past three more to the anchors. Although the route has some funky rock in the first few body lengths and inconsistent difficulty, spectacular position and exciting climbing warrant the stars, in my view.

Walk east on the ledge system from which

Starstruck

starts until the ledge begins to peter out in the vicinity of

Creaking Plank

. Downclimb maybe 15 feet to a lower ledge. Above should be a belay bolt, with three more bolts above that on broken-looking and increasingly overhanging rock leading to the large roof described above. Descent: lower or rap from Metolius rap hangers.

Seven draws for the route. Fixed biners on the anchors (consider taking extra biners in case they're gone).