Lover's Leap: California's Moderate Mecca
Having just returned from a trip with friend Ivo Kusanovich to Lover's Leap in the Sierra near South Lake Tahoe, I can declare with certainty that it is the most stacked crag in the state for moderate multi-pitch routes. I say this because you can hardly walk 50 feet along the base before arriving at yet another classic 5.6-5.9 multipitch route with comfortable belay ledges and a casual walk-off through a pine forest. Classic is not just an exaggeration either; Traveler's Buttress is listed in Steck and Roper's 50 Classic Climbs of North America.
With Ivo I got to enjoy such classics as the Line, Haystack, Traveler's Buttress, Hospital Corner, the Groove and Surrealistic Pillar, all of which would be 5 star area classics any where else. As it is, they are 5 star classics right along side one another! Not bad for a quick little trip!
1 comment:
Love Lover's Leap! There is a rarely climbed route (Gamoke 10b) just right of Hospital Corner which is just as good IMO! Also a corner, but with a lot more variety including some overhangs, hands, tight hands, some fingers, stemming. Surrealistic Pillar Direct, Hospital Corner, Gamoke, and Traveler's Buttress was my favorite link up for LL.
Also, Eagle's Buttress Right/Roofer's Madness are awesome (on central wall).
Concentration of 2-4 pitch moderate climbs is higher than anywhere else I have been!
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