This new addition to the north buttress of Hallett was established ground-up in the summer of 2006 over multiple attempts in very dodgy weather.

Description

This recent addition to Hallett Peak's North Face involves 6 new pitches just left of the classic Direct Second Buttress route. Four of the six pitches were done as 60m rope stretchers. The fourth pitch ascends the striking right facing dihedral which is the right side of the "Big Yellow Flake" which the Jackson-Johnson climbs on its left side.

Starting the first pitch in a light rain

Location 

This route starts approx. 50' left of the Direct Second Buttress route and stays about that far left for the first 4 pitches. The most prominent feature climbed is the right side of the big yellow flake from which it then heads a little right and straight up to the top. Recommended descent is to the east with 2- half rope rappels and an easy scramble down.

The start is reached via a short 4th class climb up a stepped corner for 50' to reach a large sloping ledge. Two dihedrals- the left with much grass and the right (splitter fingers) start from this ledge- if you went all the way up the right one it meets up with the regular start to the DSB. 

Route Information

P1- 30m, 5.9+. Climb the perfect finger crack in a small left facing dihedral then after 40' step left above a small ceiling into the next left facing dihedral. Traverse left (crux) at the end of this corner for 30' to reach a slung horn anchor which can be strengthened in the crack behind.

Near the top of the first pitch

P2- 30m 5.10+. Head right out of the belay up a featured slab into a small right facing corner which is followed through steep ground up and left until reaching an alcove from which a right leaning crack (.5 Camalot)(crux)emerges and takes one to the sling anchor(1 pin, nut, horn)-60m rappel to the ground.

Starting the second pitch (crux) as the storm gets thick

Mid-way up the difficulties of the second pitch

P3- 60m 5.9. Climb a splitter finger crack out of the belay up and right, stepping right after 30' into a shallow dihedral which heads straight up on steep juggy large flakes (mostly attached)into the very large R-facing corner of the yellow flake- worth stretching the rope here as it brings one to a very large, comfortable ledge on the white band.

P4- 60m 5.9+. Climb the striking,right-facing dihedral of the yellow flake and hold on tight! On the FA this was done as 5.9+(X). A few large Camalots would bring this down to an (R)rating. After a ledge, continue to the top of the Yellow Flake Tower which has another spacious ledge system on top.

In the middle of the big run-out on pitch 4

P5- 60m 5.9 Step down and right off the top of the Yellow Flake and follow a crack system up for 50' into a white quartz crack. Step right out of this crack onto a right leaning ramp which is followed 50' right until a steep but featured face takes one up into another prominent white quartz crack system to a small belay stance.

Just below the summit as the storm passes

P6- 60m 5.9+ Follow this crack system straight up and a little left and belay from the top of the Second Buttress.

A sustained blizzard hit the FA party on this pitch making for a Patagonian type experience!

The first rappel off the east end of the summit plateau

Descent

The easiest way to descend from the top of all routes on the second or first buttresses is to walk east across the summit plateau following cairns for a few hundred yards until you reach a two bolt anchor on the plateau edge.  One 30m rappel down will reach a solid slung pinch - another 30m rappel down to the dirt gulley will get you started on the easy scramble down and skier's left to the bottom of the cliff nearby Hallet's Chimney.

Equipment 

This is an "all natural" route except for one piton which was put in on the second pitch rappel anchor. Retreat in very bad weather was made three times from here before the route was completed.

A standard rack with an emphasis on doubles and triples of all Camalot sizes from 0 to #1. On the FA, a #3 Camalot was the biggest size taken although this necessitated a 50' 5.9+ runout on pitch four -which would have been a very ugly fall. Perhaps one #5 Camalot would protect this wide-crack crux which the leader laybacked and the second off-widthed. The tops of P1, P2, and P4 have sling rappel anchors.

Three or four 72" slings and many shoulder length slings will help reduce rope-drag which is very much an issue on P2.

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