Life on Mars

This is the steep slab on the right taller side of stumbling block. The start is a bit vegetated, but the route is taller and better than some of its nearby neighbors. Start climbing the left arete via stemming, laybacking and balancing off the thick left arete. Then angle up and across right on the face which steepens to vertical for a few moves (crux). Crimps and pinches are thin and the feet cryptic in this section. Then mantle onto the top of an attached column on the right side of the formation. Catch a breath and compression and straddle your way up the top of the right arete to the route’s independent anchors. This last part is just a bit easier than it initially looks.

Far right end of Stumbling Block. Access anchors via leading Rainbow Brite (5.7 Trad) or by scrambling up the back of the formation.

Anchor on top for TR