Ad Astra Per Aspera

PITCH ONE

Climb easy terrain to a sling belay on a ledge (50' ish)

PITCH TWO

From the sling belay walk up a ledge to a straight in crack. This is the only crack up a right of the belay that you can hand-jam for a few feet. Climb the crack to a few bolts.

After the second bolt arch left around a small corner and clip another bolt. Note: this is where I "wimped" out and avoided the good climbing by arching left to easier terrain. After clipping this bolt, make your way straight up to a giant ledge with a bolted anchor. We named this RED LEDGE because of the Giant red band of rock visible from Willard.

PITCH THREE

Start up and right of the belay about 15 feet. Climb and arch left past some cam placements to bolts leading through a steep red face directly above the belay.

This is the crux for the route. It has bolts where you want and doesn't have bolts where you also want them. After arching up and left past bolts, climb left (north) for a few feet, then travel straight up past a few fixed pitons to a bolted belay.

PITCH FOUR

The fourth pitch gains a big ledge then climbs straight above the belay. About 12-15 feet up, there is a great horn to sling, then a bolt, piton, and a bolt to a small ledge with a bolted anchor.

If you are in doubt of where to start the first pitch, look high and you'll see the bolts in a clean face. At the end of pitch five arch left (north) to the anchor.

PITCH FIVE

Climb up a left to a fixed pin. Ascend straight up past more fixed pins and finish out a small roof crack. Above the roof, clip and anchor and continue to the summit!

The route is above Willard Utah. To find the start, hike the Willard Falls trail. Find the easiest path towards the great talus up and right (south) of the creek. Hike to the highest point of the talus. There is/was a kairn at the start of the route. LOOK FOR THE GIANT RED BAND OF ROCK the route travels through the middle of it.

Cams to #3 Black Diamond. Doubles on small cams. One set of nuts. Slings. 70 meter rope or two 60 meter ropes. Helmets. A good sense of rock navigation.