Labor Dome, 5.4-5.10d

Overview/Approach

Miramonte’s extensive local guide places Labor Dome in the Roadside Rocks grouping.  In reality, although not far from the road, it is part of the Outback climbing area.  This was the final feature I had yet to climb in the Outback but I found its small collection of routes as good as any in this area.  Labor Dome is located directly across the desert floor from Hitman Rock, which faces northeast.  If climbing in the winter, start off on Hitman’s routes and switch over to Labor Dome for a decent day of trad climbing in the sun.

Working Overtime, 5.9*, is an improbable looking 5.9 pulling through a dramatic roof on the left side of the wall.  It offers stellar climbing at the grade from bottom to top.  Corn Flakes, 5.6, is a worthy lead for the budding trad leader and starts out the left side of the main southwest facing wall.  Woman’s Work is Never Done, 5.10c**, offers an outstanding left to right steep leaning finger splitter.  Time and a Half, 5.10d*, offers a fun and physical roof start, heel hook and/or mantel.  All five of these routes protect well and get good sun from mid-morning on. 

Park at the side pull out on Park Blvd just west of the “Intersection”, on the north side of the road.  Circumvent Watanobe and the Hot Tub formation to the left (east).  Turn right into a short valley and Hitman Rock is to the south and Labor Dome to the north (photos).  10 minute approach.

Routes Listed Left to Right as Facing the Southwest Facing Wall

Working Overtime- 70’-5.9*/ One of the better 5.9 trad routes in the park, if not an under recognized one.  Climb the obvious but improbable looking, for the grade, finger/hand crack through the roof.  Features for feet on the right side of the crack is what keeps this roof pull moderate.  Jog left to climb the fun flake finger crack for the upper half of the route.  Can set up medium gear belay.  There is no fixed anchor atop this formation as the latest (2019) Miramontes guide suggests.  Walk off the formation to climber’s right.  Double rack to C4 #2.  Dow

Blue Collar- 65’-5.4/ Hand crack mini roof pull on the left side arete of this wall.  Then well featured cracks followed to top.  Gear anchor, walk off the formation climber’s right.  Dow

Corn Flakes- 55’- 5.6/ Shared start with Woman’s Work is Never Done. Traverse on a foot rail before Woman’s splitter gets small and finish up Blue Collar.  Gear anchor and walk off climbers right.  Single rack to C4 #2.  Dow

Woman’s Work is Never Done- 55’-5.10c**/ Shared start with Corn Flakes, then follow the laser cut ring lock sized splitter on the right diagonal.  The crux is when it bites down to less than tips as you make the transition from fingers leaning right to lay backing left off the edge of the crack.  A cool physical transition on steep ground.  Medium gear anchor, walk off climbers right.  Single to C4# .75 and additional medium pieces for the anchor.  Dow

Time and a Half- 55’-5.10d*/ Easy ground up to below the roof to the right of Woman’s.  Place bomber gear and then make a powerful (awkward) roof pull via lay backing left.  Once upright, continue straight up the crack to a shared gear anchor with Woman’s.  Small gear.  Dow