The Nerve

Located on the often overlooked West Bell Tower, The Nerve bolsters some awesome exposure, decent rock, and some intimidating and committing moves. 3 pitches of variety and featured stone give this route reason to venture to the Tower.

Pitch 1 – Climb the polished and immaculate stone of the shallow corner via thin gear and thin moves. Crux comes at the second bolt, try hard or fly. Sustained climbing, sequential, AWESOME! After the 2nd bolt and crux, clip two pins and step left and finish at a great belay ledge with bolts. 5.11a – may feel harder if the temps are high.

Pitch 2 – Step right, climb the handcrack past a mint shrub to a set of anchors. Don’t belay here, but clip with a long sling, step down to the right and traverse towards a bolt above two large chickenheads. Climb up and right to two bolt belay. 8-

Pitch 3- The Gritty Arête. Clip a pin above the belay, and climb the arete through 4 more bolts and a pin. Small gear or slung trees to finish the pitch at a 2 bolt anchor. 10a

Scramble to the summit of the tower or to the ridge via easy soloing.

Located on the left of center section of the West Bell Tower. Look for the somewhat shallow left facing polished corner just to the right of the start of the Beckey Route. Just to the left of a large roof down low and right below a large roof up high.

To access the Buttress follow the main Bell’s hiking trail up the hill to the branch off for the Waterfall. Hike to the east (right) up and above the falls. Cross the creek right above the cascade and follow the obvious trail through a primitive campsite that heads east (right) following the creek a bit. This trail will then turn north headed towards the buttress. Maintain elevation and contour towards the wall.

It looks like all the bolts have been retro-ed to 3/8in rawls.

For Pitch 1 – Bring your small stuff, and some wits. The lower third requires green/purple C3’s, RP’s and other small cams to .4 BD. A thin KB may help here. The Ruckman guide shows a pin in this lower section, but it is no more. The climbing is about 5.10 here and fairly sustained. The upper crux is protected by two bolts. Bring a single rack to #3 for the finish.

For Pitch 2 – Single rack and two bolts.

For Pitch 3 – 4 bolts, 2 pins, and slings for some trees.

70 meter rope required.

Rap the route. Note: When rapping from the top of the 2nd pitch to the good belay ledge atop the first, keep tension in the direction of the belay as you rap, the belay is a ways to the side. If not, you will swing down and be out under a large roof.