I've been holding out on posting any Supertopo Trip reports. I've been just a little intimidated by the company here and your exploits. However, I finally feel I've got a worthy route to report on. We did the Beckey Route on Lone Pine Peak's Bastille Buttress yesterday (6/17/2010) and it really is kick ass! I once eavesdropped on a Fred Beckey conversation and heard him say that this route is "the best rock climb in Southern California" Whatever that means, and how he might have overlooked anything at The Needles, is besides the point. The Man's endorsement, plus the outright sex appeal of the feature, had me drooling over this for a while. Now a few pictures and unsolicited beta:


Pitches 7, 8 and 9 are grainy. Up above it gets way splitter again, brah.


In summary, it's excellent. Every type of climbing: steep face, low angle friction, steep cracks, bolt ladder, a bit of alpine ridganeering. Runout and thought provoking but the hard bits are very well protected. Suitably serious and remote, but doable in a day from a warm bed. Killer views, cell service the entire way.

Stats and info:
-Original grade: V 5.8 A2.
-newest guidebook: IV 10c A0
-15 long pitches.
-1.5-2 hours for the approach.
-7-10 hours on route.
-2-3 hours descent.
-Beta in the Lewis/Croft book is spot on.
-Summitpost page