Showing all 7 routes.
Grade | Route | Gear style | Popularity | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Djebel Ressas The School of Rock The Star Wars Buttress | |||||
5a | ★ X-Wing
This one starts at the lower south-side base of the Star Wars Buttress, opposite from Death Star. It can be identified by the conspicuously large and slanted overhanging block situated ten meters above the deck. The climb is usually top-roped, but it’s gone free a couple of times. The crux section above the platform ledge can be tricky to protect and TCU’s are nice to have there. Otherwise a light rack of stoppers will serve nicely.
Variation: Red Five, Standing By (5.8+) Here’s a deviation from X-Wing that takes a more direct and challenging line from the top of the leaning slab.
FA: Jim Ryan & Christian Hettick, 2006 | 22m | |||
Djebel Ressas The School of Rock The Middle Buttress | |||||
3 | Launch Pad
Launch Pad is a low-angled pitch suitable for beginners, partly because the route is pretty obvious and can be clearly viewed from the bottom. A shallow boulder on the ground near the base of the climb makes a fine perch for the belayer.
FA: Jim Ryan, Christian Hettick & Jean Michelle Delmot, 2005 | ||||
4c | ★★ Shakin' Flake
Just upslope and east of the Middle Buttress you’ll notice an isolated, tapered gendarme that’s about 25 meters high. Tom Bloom and I put up a lone route beginning at the lowest point on tower’s northwestern base. The climbing can be unsettling as the stability of the rock surface is quite dodgy. Still, ample, solid material is available for those with the will to send it. Bring a medium range of stoppers, cams and TCUs, as well as some slings and longer draws for protection.
Avoid rapping from the chossy, fragmented horn on top in favor of spanning the deep, narrow chasm to the south and continuing with a 4th class descent along the southeastern backside of the prominence. FA: Jim Ryan & Tom Bloom, 2007 | 25m | |||
Djebel Ressas The School of Rock The Right Wall | |||||
YDS:5.6 | ★★★ Pilgrim's Progress
1
5.4
2
5.5
3
5.6
The first pitch of this climb is terrific for the blossoming novice. The remaining two pitches are fun as well, and offer a healthy measure of exposure. The combination makes an excellent first lead on a very moderate surface. Unfortunately, during each pitch the belayer will eventually lose sight of the climber, making crisp vocal communication critical. The description that follows is for a multi-pitched ascent to the top, but brand new climbers will have more fun just top-roping the first pitch alone. A. Pilgrim’s Progress First Pitch, YDS: 5.4, FR: 3
B. Pilgrim’s Progress Second Pitch, YDS: 5.5, FR: 4a You’ll easily find your way along this short ridge line that leads to the exposed cliff on the other side.
C. Pilgrim’s Progress Third Pitch, YDS: 5.6, FR: 4b
After belaying the second and cleaning up the gear, use doubled 60 meter lines to rap from slings, down the east side of the Right Wall, and then to boulders on the ground. When you touch down you should be just 40 meters uphill from where you began at the base of Pilgrim’s first pitch. FA: Jim Ryan & Christian Hettick, 2005 | 3, 2 | |||
4c | The Right Stuff
The belay stance for this sketchy route is a few paces downhill from the base of Pilgrim's Progress.
FA: Jim Ryan & Christian Hettick, 2005 | 20m | |||
Djebel Ressas The School of Rock The Terminator Buttress | |||||
YDS:5.6 | The Schism
The massive crevice slicing down from the top of the Terminator Buttress is both cool and spooky. Climbing up into the gap itself is messy business due to some thick foliation and plenty of loose rock. Plus, lurking in the darkness above are dozens of toaster-sized boulders perched on a hidden ramp. (Beware: these widow makers are just waiting to cascade at the slightest offense.) Jim Ryan and Christian Hettick initially explored some ground-up climbing in The Schism, but found it to be an inhospitable place. If you decide to make the attempt, watch for pieces of the abseil anchor they built for their escape. FA: Jim Ryan & Christian Hettick, 2005 | 25m | |||
5c | L'été indien
FA: 1981 | 80m, 3 |
Showing all 7 routes.