Quicksilver

This is an excellent and bold face climb up the center of the North Face Apron. I've only done a couple other 5.9R climbs in the Valley like Marginal and Goodrich Right, but Quicksilver is considerably harder and more serious than either of those. But if you are very solid at the grade this is a route well worth doing. It's also the most moderate route up the NF Apron, with all the other multipitch routes being 5.10-5.11 and with equally frightening runouts. Most of the bolts on the climb are bomber with a couple slightly older 3/8".

The first pitch climbs a large ramp/gully which starts out 3rd class and becomes 5th class at an indistinct point. This is a long pitch but it is best to just rope up on the ground and have your belayer start simul-climbing once you hit the end of the rope. Near the end of the pitch you move out of the gully/corner and onto the face to the left. Here you will encounter a 5.8 crux which is protected by a new piton. Above is a good stance with a bolted anchor.

Pitch 2 is the crux and my partner did a fine job leading this one. From the belay climb straight up to a small gear placement, then make a traverse right across a dike to reach an old piton. From here climb up past a bolt and continuing on to a small roof. There is no pro at the roof and some tricky moves must be made here to move over to the left. Further up and left some small gear can be had behind some flakes. Easier but still heady climbing leads up past a second bolt to the anchor.

For pitch 3 traverse up and left to a corner where you can get some gear. The corner is a little hollow sounding and partly detached. Climb up and past a roof which is actually a hanging block. The gear behind this roof/block is unlikely to hold a fall, and a fall on gear placed behind it could potentially dislodge it which would be disastrous for everyone involved. Climb runout angling up and right to a high first bolt. Then climb straight up on cool knobby rock to a second bolt. At the second bolt traverse right to reach another bolted anchor.

Pitch 4 continues traversing to the right along an easy ramp to the first bolt. Then difficult friction leads further right and then up a shallow corner to a second bolt just above the roof. Pull the roof which is actually pretty burly (a change of pace from the rest of this low angle climb) and continue up to a bolted anchor.

I think this is the end of Quicksilver, but we climbed one more pitch up Freewheelin'. For this pitch climb up easy terrain to the right of the belay. There is some good gear placements and then a 5.7 bulge to the right of a bush. At the ledge traverse left and mantel to another bolted rap anchor.

To descend rappel Freewheelin' with two ropes. It is possible to retreat from the anchors of any pitch on this climb. For the first two pitches you would rappel the route. At the p3 anchor you would either rap the route or Walk of Life. I'm pretty sure two ropes are needed to rappel any of these descent routes.

A variety of small pieces including micro cams and small wires, plus maybe 3 cams in the 1-3" range for the first pitch.