HOLY SATURDAY

Holy Saturday is about 600 hundred yards down the Turtle Rock Trail (using the west trailhead), past the first beaver ponds (see first shot). It is one of the most aesthetic and photographed formations at Vedauwoo as it stands in monolithic fashion within a setting amongst reflective beaver ponds, wildflowers, piles of raw, lichen-covered rock, willows and trees (which make it even more appealing in the fall when the leaves change color). Another major draw for climbers is the unique inside double dihedral called ‘Hideaway Chimney, a total classic at it’s moderate grade. You can actually see the formation, as well as Foreign Territory and the entrance to Jurassic Park from Road #700 on the way in from I-80 – if you look closely. This is shown in the second photo below.

1.) Hume-Annoyed From Dixie 11c Take the deceptively hard crack to the roof, passing it on the left. (Williams, Harper and Kelman, ’93). See the middle image for more detail.

2.) Route Of All Evil 11a Follow the offwidth to the intersection and take the right crack. (Williams and Kelman, ’93)

3.) Passover 11b A thin crack becomes a pumpy hand crack. Traverse right at the little roof and finish on Zealot. (Scarpelli and Agee, early 90’s)

4.) Zealot 11b Hard face moves lead to a thin crack to a window above. (Scarpelli and Agee, early 90’s).

5.) Hide-A-Way Chimney 5 A great adventure up an inside double dihedral. Protects well and you’ll be jamming one way or another all the way to the top. Total classic at the grade. The shot is Jay Jurkowitsch topping out on the follow. The Turtle Rock Trail is seen below. ( fa Dewey, Toryton and Aksamit, ’64)

6.) Flake 8+ Totally exposed and sustained climbing at the grade. Take a full rack or you’ll get scared and flake out. Be sure to traverse slighly right about 30′ up, or you’ll be dead ended. Tape up for this one! (FA ?)

7.) Altar 10a Just to the right of Flake find a bit of face climbing into a long, wide crack. Fairly sustained jamming, easier at the top. (FA Kopischka, early 80’s)

8.) It’s OK To Be Humbled 11a It may force you to genuflect and apply Holy Water, but hang with it. Usually done in 2 pitches, pitch 2 is 10a. Descent from a rap station at top of 2nd pitch. (FA Calson and Briggs, ’83)

DESCENT: Either downclimb (dc) as indicated or rap. The rap station right (east) of the exit of Hideaway Chimney was replaced in ’98 by S. Harper. This is an 85 foot free hanging ride… great fun.

9.) Sorority Girl 10b An interesting crack in a dihedral corner found east across the gap from the previous three climbs. (Skinner, jones and Waterman, early 80’s)