Static Point Rebolt Project: ONLINE SECTOR COMPLETED!
I’m incredibly happy and relieved to finally report, that after four years since it started (three years of effort), the rebolting of the Online Sector at Static Point is complete!
The Statistics:
The Online Sector is 210m / 689ft tall,
76 old bolts were removed,
38 new protection bolts were installed,
18 new anchors were installed,
on 14 pitches graded 5.8 to 5.10b.
On Tuesday I woke up at 4.00am and was hiking in at 7.00am. I removed the old bolts from the upper half of Rightline, all of the bolts on Online, and added a rappel route from Tombstone Ledge. I began hiking out right after 8.00pm with 40lbs/18.5kg of batteries and tools, and made it back to my car at 9.15pm, without headlamp or stars in the sky - just squeaking out before dark (the parking pullout is limited dawn-to-dusk access). Luckily, I didn’t find a Sheriff waiting for me, an experience I’ve had once this year already and don’t want to repeat. I received a warning that time for trespassing and I don’t think they’ll be that lenient again.
Most of the bolts were remarkable strong and resisted being pulled, but several sheared off the minute I attempted to wrench the nuts. This means their shear strength was worthless in a climbing application, and in all cases I believe a lead fall would have resulted in a catastrophic, possibly fatal, consequences.
The actual topo and beta will be posted separately for folks to have a more practical printout.
Thanks to Blue Ice Climbing and Outdoor Research for their equipment support, and to the American Safe Climbing Association and Washington Anchor Replacement Program for their material support.
And a special thanks to Matt Perkins, Mark Hanna who got me started on this project; Shane Robinson at Graybird Guiding and everyone who has climbed with me at Static Point; and those who have given donations to help me with my costs of gas, equipment, and time spent. It made a huge difference. I have a special gift for each of you: a 40 year-old bolt hanger.
And thanks to Duane Constantino, David Whitelaw, Bob DeChenne, Chris Greyall, and Don Brooks for having the vision and skill to put these routes up.
Its not over! I’m going to be heading up on Wednesday, 12 August, to start hauling down the fixed ropes and a bit of trash and begin some vital trail maintenance to make the hike better. If you’d like to join me - bring a friend to go climbing, or just to hike in and carry a load out - send me an email.
The Static Point Rebolting Project is done for 2020. But the Project far from it. Next year I’ll start working on The Pillar Sector, which has 4 routes, 20 pitches, 6 bolted anchors and 9 protection bolts according to the only out-of-print guidebook that lists them. That’s a far cry less than what we just accomplished. but I’m sure it will have its own hurdles and complications. Now that I’ve gotten my systems dialed, I hope to do a sector a year (that’s three more years of work!).
Donations to help me with my personal costs are gratefully accepted here: LINK.
