Locksmith aka Dihedral Route

This nice climb is on Sphinx Rock. It is one (free) route to the left of Sphinx Crack, in the big dihedral splitting the crag. It follows the dihedral from the base of the crag up to the ledge where Sphinx Crack starts. After this belay, the route continues up the dihedral to the top. Sphinx Crack is the obvious 5.13 finger crack...you won't miss it if you're at the right crag!

Pitch one starts with a 5.8 offwidth crack for about 20-30 feet. This section can become somewhat of a grunt fest depending on how you go at it. About the only pro in this section would be the #3 Big Bro, or MAYBE a #5 cam, but, I doubt it... After this section, you cruise more easily up the rest of the chimney at about 5.7. Belay at the large ledge.

Pitch two. Just left of Sphinx Crack, climb the dihedral. It starts as a fist/wide hands crack, then steepens up into a finger crack/corner. This part takes good gear (nuts, and small cams), and is pretty steep, but really fun. The crux is at the very end where the finger crack curves left to the belay. The best way I've found to do this is with this weird sort of two finger lay back with the right hand, while smearing up and around with the left foot. This is done with decent gear (a small cam works good, I think about the black Metolius) not too far below.

Walk off easily, around and to the climber's right.

The first (5.8 chimney) pitch will take a #3 Big Bro in the first 30 feet which is also the crux of the first pitch. Take a standard rack with maybe an emphasis on small and medium cams for the second pitch.