"Dammit provides a focused trad climb on Le Dent Pinnacle’s right-facing corner, serving as a clear waypoint for exploring the surrounding routes. While not a bomb, its rugged texture and gear-sensitive crack offer essential trad skills in a classic California climbing setting."
Dammit offers climbers a modest yet distinctive challenge on the right-facing corner that marks the outer edge of Le Dent Pinnacle’s narrow pillar. Positioned amid the rugged expanse of the Suicide Rock and Tahquitz Mammoth area, this single-pitch trad climb stretches about 80 feet, carving a clear path up a somewhat gritty, textured line that contrasts with the cleaner neighboring routes. The rock here wears its age and mantle of countless ascents, with occasionally dirt-hidden pockets and edges that keep your senses sharp and gear placements thoughtful.
Though it may not command the prestige or applause of nearby climbs like Jigsaw or The Source, Dammit serves as a valuable landmark for finding more demanding routes like Steal Your Face. The route’s straightforward nature makes it a practical introduction to the area’s geology while still rewarding focused attention on gear placements and steady movement. The crack’s right-facing corner demands solid traditional protection skills but doesn’t present any intense crux moves; its challenges lie more in route-finding and maintaining composure on textured, less-than-pristine holds.
Approach this climb prepared: footwear with confident edging ability will serve well on the mainly compact stone interspersed with dusty sections. The surrounding dry desert air and sun exposure call for early starts, ensuring you beat the midday heat often pushed through the mountain canyons. Hydration is critical, as the approach involves navigating rocky trails that gain elevation steadily, and shade is sparse.
The ascent’s compact nature means climbers can expect consistent, middle-ground difficulty with well-spaced placements, though sizes for pro remain a bit uncertain, so carrying a versatile rack including small to medium cams will provide options. Despite the inconspicuous profile, Dammit is a solid primer for those charting a course through the interconnected climbs of Le Dent Pinnacle, linking references and route awareness in this storied climbing zone.
In all, Dammit stands out less as a test of extreme climbing and more as a practical waypoint on the greater map of Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks. It invites a deliberate, exploratory approach, challenging climbers to engage with the rock’s honest textures and the concentrated focus trad climbing demands, without the fuss of bolted safety nets or overwhelming technical pitches. For those aiming to sharpen their gear sense and ground their place within the area’s evolving climbing narratives, Dammit offers a grounded, accessible chapter.
The rock can be somewhat dirty and holds occasionally dust-coated, requiring careful cleaning and cautious trusting of placements. Watch for loose debris near the base and maintain situational awareness on the approach trails, which are rocky and can be slick underfoot.
Start early to avoid intense midday sun on the exposed approach and climb.
Wear shoes with strong edging ability to handle the compact yet dusty rock sections.
Bring a versatile pro rack; the crack requires careful placement but gear sizes vary.
Use this route as an orientation point for finding Steal Your Face and other nearby climbs.
Traditional gear is required. The exact sizes needed aren’t recalled, but bringing a full rack with a focus on small to medium cams will cover most placements on this route’s right-facing corner.
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