Unstrung Harp

Scott Brown envisioned this line, placed its only bolt on lead, and worked out the crux, only to take a 30 foot whipper after pumping out on the easier crack after the crux. He slammed into the wall within a few feet of the ground, shattering the back of his helmet. Freaked out, we quickly left for the bar. A few weeks later we came back, on Halloween Day. I'm not sure how I ended up with the first lead, but I was a nervous wreck all the way to the belay. For some reason, this pitch never got an R rating (or S -- for "serious" -- back then), so I assume that, despite our experience, it protects adequately. For purists, do the second pitch as described below; for tourists, I suggest doing Gripping Space for the second pitch.

(1) Climb more or less straight up to the bolt, then traverse left and up to an obvious crack/flake system. From its end climb to a pinnacle-like ledge midway on the second pitch of the Standard Route. (2) Climb up a little and strike back out right onto the face and up to a roof or bulge. Turn it (5.9 R) to easier ground above and eventually the top via any one of a number of other routes.

Regarding the name, it's the title of an Edward Gorey story about a very odd author.

Find the base of the Standard Route. Walk along the wall to the right to a RURP seam protected by bolts (Bashie Crack, 5.12, FA Bob D'Antonio 1986). Immediately to the left is Unstrung Harp.

Standard Tucson trad rack.