Indian Face

Indian Face
Image of the rock faces of the Clogwyn crag in Snowdon in Wales
Crag of Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, Snowdon, Wales
Map showing the location of Indian Face
Map showing the location of Indian Face
LocationSnowdon, Wales
Coordinates53°04′45″N 4°05′38″W / 53.0792°N 4.0939°W / 53.0792; -4.0939
Climbing areaClogwyn Du'r Arddu
Route typeTraditional climbing
Vertical gain45 metres (148 ft)[1]
Pitches1
GradeE9 6c (British)[1][2]
5.13a X (American)[2]
First free ascentJohnny Dawes
4 October 1986[a]

Indian Face is a 45-metre (148 ft) traditional climbing route on the rhyolite "Great Wall" of the East Buttress of Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, in Wales. When English climber Johnny Dawes completed the first free ascent of the route on 4 October 1986, it was graded E9 6c or (5.13a X), the first-ever E9-graded route, and was considered one of the hardest traditional climbing routes in the world.[4][5]

Indian Face is still considered one of the world's most intimidating traditional climbs, and even decades after its first ascent, it is rarely repeated.[6] The ascent was an historic moment in the transition from traditional climbing as the dominant form of extreme rock climbing (in Britain, and elsewhere), to the safer form of sport climbing, which became the focus for the leading climbers.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Rockfax was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference CL2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Grimes, Niall (30 July 2021). "Hold the line". British Mountaineering Council. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference CL1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference GUAR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference PM9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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