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Peak Mountain 3

Bloody Tax Break

FA Mike Forkash, Steve Gerberding and Jay Goodwin (aka Punkman) 2/83
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UPDATED 

Description

To find Bloody Tax Break, approach IRS wall as for Taxman. Bloody Tax Break ascends the thin fingers-to-tips crack about 3-4 meters to the right hand side of Taxman, near or on the right hand arete of that same wall. The precise way to approach is difficult, but more or less consists of walking towards IRS wall, approaching it's lower left hand side, then clambering up and over boulders towards it's upper right hand side until you encounter these two stunning fingercracks in a flat wall capped by a roof just below the top. Climb up to the crack at the right hand side. Near the ground, you can step to the right and climb easy terrain with the crack or step left and make an eliminate problem out of the crack, climbing a better line on better rock. As the climb continues, a bulge on the right side of the arete forces those on the right into the harder climbing for the crux anyway. There are two cruxes on this route, of a similar nature to that of Taxman, but perhaps a little harder; one 1/2 way up, and one switching cracks to the right at the small roof as the original line disappears. This climb would get more stars if the rock were more solid.

Protection

The pro on this route is reasonable at the crux, and below that can be had with patience. I seriously recommend taking some thin cams or slider nuts if you like to put in a lot of gear or are not really solid at 5.10-. Fixed anchors up and left 10' above 'Taxman' provide a convenient belay and rap off.