OWA Guides pioneer Northshore Traverse

Because of the *ahem* well bolted nature of the North Shore Cliff band, our guides have been talking about a traverse across the entire cliff band, west to east.

Well this past weekend OWA guides Seth Bowles and Sean McNally went out and gave this traverse a shot! Starting the farthest west that they could, our guides found themselves placing a few nuts to protect the blanker faces but soon got to that classic Northshore overhanging terrain with bolted anchors every 3 feet or so.

Some sketchy nuts. Just don’t fall.

OWA guide Sean McNally about to find himself traversing through cactus, bushes, and dirt with little pro.

OWA guide Seth Bowles enjoying some airy overhanging (but ultimately well protected) traversing.

Our guides made it all the way to the Control Alt Delete wall when they decided to bail. Because falls during this traverse often ended with our guides having to prussick back up the rope, the general consensus was that a return attempt would be greatly helped with some jumars, light ladders, and hooks. Our guides said they traversed about six or so pitches and had a great adventure. Apparently, the nature of the bolt lines out there allowed for the belayer and climber to each have their own two bolt anchor and even sometimes backed it up with another!