Sisyphus

Page Type Page Type: Route
Location Lat/Lon: 50.84779°N / 121.70465°W
Additional Information Route Type: Trad Climbing
Seasons Season: Spring
Additional Information Time Required: Half a day
Additional Information Rock Difficulty: 5.9 (YDS)
Additional Information Number of Pitches: 5
Additional Information Grade: II
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

Sisyphus - Marble CanyonThis is the crux section on the fifth pitch.
The approach trail from the Apron parking pull-out ends at a sandy bench – there are a number of shorter climbs that start here (some bolted sport climbs). Sisyphus is one of the best lines at Marble Canyon, and one of the most popular. I will describe the standard route, but there are a number of variations (harder) – including starting via the sport climb left of the standard start, or moving left from the big fir tree at the top of pitch 3 onto the steep slab (bolt protected, but run-out – 10c). The standard Sisyphus route starts on the right side of this sandy bench area on a low angle left facing corner

Route Description

Topo - This is a topo for the Marble Canyon's Apron - Sisyphus is climb "A".

Pitch 1 -. You climb the corner bearing slightly left. The pitch ends by a tree – there are belay bolts to the left of the tree on a ledge (this is also a rap station) – 5.5.

Pitch 2 – There are a number of variations for pitch two – including a steep crack immediately to the left of the belay (about 5.8). You can also go straight up from the belay via a short 4th class section, and then up a large flake (the easiest variation). Another variation is to climb even further left from the belay station aiming for a shallow right facing corner (about 5.7). All these pitches end on a sandy ledge with a bolt belay.

Pitch 3 – Move the belay up the third class gully aiming for the big fir tree.

Pitch 4 – This is a most obvious line – called the Sickle; a left facing corner, turning into a roof. You climb up this feature bearing left until you can make the move over the roof. This pitch is probably about 5.8. There are jugs over the roof, so don’t be intimidated. The pitch ends at the fir tree on a beautiful little ledge.

Pitch 5 – This is the crux pitch. From the ledge climb up and right into the left facing corner. The crux comes about midway as you need to negotiate a bulge. It’s a tricky move (5.9), but is well protected. The pitch ends at a small tree.

Pitch 6 – About 30 metres of 4th class brings you to the ledge.

Getting Down

Rappel the route - either trees or bolted stations

Essential Gear

Bring a descent size rack (at least one big cam), with more focus on the smaller sizes.

Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.