Sandstone Sandwich
5.10c R trad · 110 ft · ★★★☆
Route 7 of 16 from left to right on Dark Shadows Wall, with Dream Safari on its left and Heart of Darkness on its right. Dark Shadows Wall has 16 routes, from 5.8 to 5.12a R; 5 are harder, and 2 others are the same grade.
First ascent: Bob Conz, George Smith, Jim Lybarger - July, 1990
Description
Sandstone Sandwich is a mostly bolted pitch between Excellent Adventure (shares anchors with it) and Dark Shadows. See Excellent Adventure's description for more details. Start from the boulder where Dark Shadows starts and then traverse in on a ledge above the pool. Climb up the water polished slab past two modern bolts to an overlap/roof. Place gear here and pull onto the steep, beautiful face above. Head up past more bolts, generally trending to the left, to an anchor.
Protection
A bunch of quickdraws and a very light rack.
Hikes, approaches and descents
- Mescalito Direct — Class 3
Access
Timed-entry reservation required to enter the Scenic Drive October to May.
Wet rock: Aztec sandstone is fragile when wet. Do not climb for at least 24 to 48 hours after rain or snowmelt.
More routes on Dark Shadows Wall
- Peyote Power 5.9
- Extra Credit 5.10a
- Heart of Darkness 5.11 PG13
- Chasing Shadows 5.9
- Dark Shadows (Full) 5.8
- Dark Shadows 5.8
- Slot Machine 5.10
- Edge Dressing 5.10c
- Short Circuit 5.11b
- Excellent Adventure 5.11b R
- Risky Business 5.10c R
- Negro Blanco 5.10+ R
- Parental Guidance 5.12a R
- Dream Safari 5.11- R
- Lost Voices 5.8 R