Howie's Hercules

Howie Feinsilber found and established Howie's Hercules as an alternative to the original Hercules line. It is a slightly friendlier and easier variation that allows you to go around the stopper crux of Hercules and instead use a series of powerful and dynamic movements off very small crimps.

David Hume, who was a top sport climber in the country at the time and an accomplished 14 climber, verified Howie's Hercules at 13d/14a and commented on the stunning beauty of the Zues wall in Climbing Magazine back in '99. To date, Howie's Hercules has only seen 3 known repeats and Hercules is still unrepeated.

Start in the same place as Zues, off of the highest obvious ledge in the center of the Zues Wall and below the steepest section of rock. Zues goes up and left and beautifully silhouettes the sky at half height. Hercules climbs up and right following an early sequential crux to the second bolt which eventually gets you established on two good side by side incut crimps. Here Hercules continues right, following the unmistakable crack seam weakness just under the roof feature. Howie's Hercules is cryptic and not so obvious but fires up and left over the roof off the two crimps mentioned above. Once established over the roof, traverse right across the top of the roof system and make a big move to get back on line. Execute a series of big moves and tosses under one of the steepest sections of rock on the wall and get a quick shake on a large blocky sloper. Fire a few powerful moves off small crimps to get your first good rest at 3/4 height and proceed up an easier crimp latter to the top of the wall.

Starts off the highest most obvious small ledge in the center of the Zues Wall.

Sport