Go back to Smith Rock page.
Summary
Another day of Lower Gorge climbing in October of 2006. We hit up the Parched Cat Cliff (first and only – as of October of 2011 – time there). Did Physical Abuse (5.10a), a short crack route or almost a boulder problem but with a poor landing. We also did Cretin’s Retreat (5.10c) which I thought was as good as Wildfire (which gets a better star rating in Watts’ book) and The Ferret’s Dead (5.9) next door. We ran into some friends. We ended the day by doing Wildfire(5.10b) again.
Photos
![Physical Abuse Physical Abuse](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_5892-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley giving Physical Abuse line a go though she did not end up liking it very much...This is a short 5.10a "boulder problem" of a route but has a poor landing (think thorny bushes below; Oct. 28, 2006).
![Cretin's Retreat Cretin's Retreat](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_5901-768x1024.jpg)
Starting up Cretin's Retreat (5.10c) on Parched Cat Cliff of Smith's Lower Gorge. Fingers to tips to no crack and lotta stemming footwork (fell twice; Oct. 28, 2006).
![Cretin's Retreat Cretin's Retreat](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_5902-768x1024.jpg)
Starting up Cretin's Retreat (5.10c) on the Parched Cat Cliff. Our friends on the right are starting The Ferret's Dead (5.9; Oct. 2006).
![Cretin's Retreat Cretin's Retreat](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_5912-768x1024.jpg)
Leading Cretin's Retreat belayed by Shirley; our friends are on The Ferret's Dead. Parched Cat Cliff action in October of 2006.
![Cretin's Retreat Cretin's Retreat](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_5906-768x1024.jpg)
Leading Cretin's Retreat with the upper headwall visible above. The route Oriface (5.10b...the spelling is correct) reportedly climbs this face but we have not done it (bolts; Oct. 2006).
![Cretin's Retreat Cretin's Retreat](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_5920-768x1024.jpg)
Leading Cretin's Retreat (5.10c). This is the initial stem corner portion - as good as Wildfire but more sustained (Oct. 2006).
![Cretin's Retreat Cretin's Retreat](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_5925-768x1024.jpg)
Approaching the upper crux on Cretin's Retreat - say bye-bye to the crack and go for the face just above. Brian L. is leading The Ferret's Dead just next door. Photo credit: Scotty (thank you! Oct. 28, 2006).
![The Ferret's Dead The Ferret's Dead](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_5962-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley leading The Ferret's Dead (5.9) on Parched Cat Cliff in Smith's Lower Gorge. Cretin's Retreat (5.10c fingers) is on the right (Oct. 28, 2006). Photo credit: Scotty (thank you sir!).
![Lower Gorge Lower Gorge](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_6014-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley hiking out of the Lower Gorge after a fine day of fall (see them colors??) climbing. The Monument is keeping guard in the background (Oct. 2006).
Go back to Smith Rock page.