Handle With Care

This is perhaps the longest route on the Obelisk and climbs the north-west arete of the formation. It receives morning shade.

Start on the buttress to the left of a huge chimney (the West Face route starts out of the right side of this chimney). Your first objective is to gain the notch between a large pinnacle which is on the corner of the north face. This takes 3 or 4 pitches and there are many different variations. We started near the left end of the west face at the right side of a small pillar and climbed straight up, passing some roofs (low down on the route) to the left. You want to continue straight up. If you wander too far left (as we did) you will end up ontop of the pinnacle and need to do one short rap back down into the notch.

From the notch climb an excellent crack system angling up and left across the face. This ends at a small stance beneath a bulge. The next pitch passes the bulge and continues up to more ledges. A final 4th class pitch will gain the top of the Obelisk.

Pro to 3" and plenty of webbing for tying off chicken-heads.