Upper Mount Scott - Rock Climbing

Stephen Tremaine, Ethan Hulme, and myself top-ropped several routes on Upper Mount Scott September 19th. The first route, Atomic Knee Drop (5.6) started off with a wide crack that led to a small roof.  The roof was the crux of the route, and this was followed by a lower angled but smaller crack that led to the finish.  The second route we did was Pile Driver (5.6).  I considered this the easiest route we attempted.  You basically lieback up a flaked slab for 15 feet.  This leads to an easy traverse over to the end of Spinning Back Kick.  The climbing is slightly harder at this point to the finish, but still easy.  The final route was Spinning Back Kick (5.6).  The first 20 feet up a black water streak are the crux of the route.  Guide books rate this as 5.6, but it felt harder than that to me due to the lack of holds on a nearly vertical wall.  Once past the crux, the route becomes much easier.  Ethan also climbed the blank vertical wall that resides between Atomic Knee Drop and Pile Driver...he is a more advanced climber than myself, and I did not attempt that route.

Setting up the top rope.

Stephen tackling the first section of Atomic Knee Drop.

Ethan approaching the crux of Atomic Knee Drop.

Ethan pulling past the small roof on Atomic Knee Drop.

Lieback on Pile Driver.

Ethan going up the left side of the water streak on Spinning Back Kick.

Stephen going up the right side of the water streak on Spinning Back Kick.

Ethan climbing on blank granite in between Atomic Knee Drop and Pile Driver.