Approach
Past Lake Fork Campground on Yellow Pine Road is a pull-out with a Slick Rock signpost. Park there. Cross the creek on a log jam below the pull-out, then take the 15 minute trudge up the hillside to the base of Slick Rock. The route begins almost directly below the summit & is quite obvious.
Route Description
Scramble to the first belay near a left-facing dihedral. From near the end of this open book, traverse right and friction upwards to a bolted belay in a shallow, sloping dish (look closely; the bolt blends in well). In 1993 there was 1 bolt only. As of 2004, research for this page implies that there is now more than 1 bolt).
From the belay bolt, the next pitch is 5.4. Keep heading up the triple cracks; it is nearly impossible to get off route. Run the rope out on every pitch. There are some 50-foot runouts on easy friction, but the steeper areas (5.6; as you approach the summit) offer good protection.
Rock & Ice #50 (July / August 1992) has a topo on page 112.
Essential Gear
A varied rack, with chocks & cams up to 4" will suffice. Many of the cracks are parallel, and cams are especially handy. The cracks vary from fingers / hands to chimneys. I found hexes simply did not work well at all. Take lots of runners.
Miscellaneous Info
If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.
willow - Jun 30, 2004 2:31 pm - Hasn't voted
Route CommentThere is a new bolted route to the right of the regular route. The last two pitches are right next to the Regular Route. We ended up climbing the last pitch and a half of the bolted route when we climbed the Regular Route, which was good fun slab climbing (5.7). I do not know what the entire bolted route goes at (someone told me ~5.9).
Sharon - Jul 5, 2004 11:46 pm - Hasn't voted
Route CommentHi Willow --
Thanks for the new route info (Slick Rock). I just incorporated your post onto the main page under "Route Overviews" so your info will be easily found. Any chance you have any Slick Rock photos? I can't find any of mine : ( If you have any, please post 'em!
Welcome to SP!
willow - Jul 16, 2004 5:06 pm - Hasn't voted
Route CommentI don't have any photos, but I hope to get back and do the new route in the fall. I should be in possession of a camera by then.
- wf