Route:  Snow Creek Wall/Orbit
Climbed:  October 11, 1998


Approach: Hike the snow creek trail to just past the snow creek wall.
When it feels like you may have gone too far you should see a way
trail going down to a camp site.  Stay on the main trail a little
farther yet till you see another way trial going down.  This leads to
the rotten log and a trail to the base of the wall.  You will arrive
at the base of Outer Space.  To get to Orbit, turn left and walk along
the base and down for a short way till you can scramble up 3rd class
gullies to a large ledge with tree.  There is a way trail that
continues on traversing through a couple small gullies to the decent
gully.  It is worth checking this out so you know where to exit from
the decent gully on the way down.

Climb: The pitches described here are as we climbed them.  We combined
a few so it does not match up with Jim Nelson's pitches.  Pitch 1 goes
up an easy gully to a tree.  Pitch 2 works up a left facing corner to
where it forms a sort of chimbney.  This is an awkward move,
especially so if you are wearing a pack.  Shift the pack till you can
use some chimbney technique and it's much easier.  Continue up easier
cracks to a left sloping ramp.  Pitch 3 continues along the ramp then
up a steep face with finger cracks.  A couple small cams will be
useful.  I climbed the right crack till it got difficult then shifted
to the left crack.  

Pitch 4 moves onto a right traversing ramp, steep and a little run
out but with a good new bolt near the top.  Step off the ramp and onto
a steep face and continue up.  In about 20 to 40 ft you should find a
small ledge with good cracks on which you can construct a semi-hanging
belay.  Good to have some fist sized cams for this.  

Pitch 5 continues up face and into corner.  Near top of corner move
right over a crest and then up to a good ledge.  Mixed protection and
a little run out (placements about every 7 to 15 feet).

Pitch 6 steps out the left side of the ledge and climbs a short and
highly featured face to another good ledge.  Pitch 7 continues with
more of the same to antoher ledge, about 100 ft this time.  This
secion of climbing is on large nobs and swrils of rock which provide
excelent hand and foot holds.  Easy and enjoyable.

Pitch 8 works up blocks wedged in a chimbney then runs over easy
terrain, staying left till you come to a 10 ft corner crack.  Climb
the crack (5.8?), traverse left a little further, then climb up toward
the trees.  

Decent:  Decent gully is back and to the left.  There is generally a
train.  At the top, if in doubt stay right.  Lower down stay left and
look for the trail back to the base of the climb. 




[Route description written by Tom Unger]