Slab the Impaler

This is the first route up the large shield of slab on Mt. Haystack’s No Man’s Land area and features airy face climbing and an edgy traverse. Thanks to Rich McKenna for coming up with such a perfect name, a play on Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula of Romania.

Face climb the slab along the left side of the crack until it peters out. Traverse left on flaky edges to a short, shallow, right-facing corner. Climb to its top and step left to a flared seam. Make a few moves up the seam to the obvious bugle with a short off-width. Follow the OW to easier terrain. Drift slightly left across several left and right rising cracks, and follow the slab to a belay in a stepped gully.

Start: On the left side of the obvious crack with grassy tufts.

Gear: Standard rack to 4”.