The Ritual

An absolutely fantastic and proud modern route up one of the steeper faces on Westworld Dome, The Ritual is a fine addition to the Stronghold and will challenge a panoply of climbing techniques. It is comprised of powerful crack wrestling, precise face waltzing and improbable slab teetering, with mellow and aesthetic ground to a wild summit block. Pitch 1: Ascend a right facing corner (small cam and bolts) to a ledge. Stem off a boulder and head up a layback feature to the hanging pillars and twin cracks above. A crazy boulder problem and compression techniques gains the long crack which leads to a semi hanging belay. 12-, bolts and gear to 3"Pitch 2: Continue up the golden face on small holds to a crux where the wall kicks back. Climbing continually eases off and gains a sparse, run-out slab with huge knobs (5.8 R) to a spacious ledge. Totally incredible pitch, one of the best face climbs around. 12d, bolts and a couple of long slings for the knobs. 

Pitch 3: From the anchor head up on nearly invisible holds and traverse hard left, encountering a crux gaining the knobby dike that arches upwards to a spattering of big chicken heads. Romp up the very run-out slab (5.6 R/X), passing some slinging opportunities, a #3 placement and one bolt to the anchor. 11b, bolts, slings, and a #3Pitch 4: Climb the obvious, juggy and extra fun dike to the summit. 5.9 R, two bolts and some slings if you want them. Rappel War Paint. Hail Index!

Approach as for Coati Corner. The Ritual starts in the deepest part of the notch.

10 quickdraws, 4 slings and a single rack tips to 3"