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"The Trough" at TAHQUITZ

According to Summer's guidebook, 'The Trough' has a rating of 5.0 and was first climbed in 1936 by a bunch of yahoos in hiking boots (Jim Smith, Bob Brinton, and Z. Jasaitis). A later guidebook indicates the route is rated 5.4. As most climbing literature will tell you, ratings vary from area to area so "don't get all huffy if a route is easier or harder than expected". We Wander Women think most guidebooks are crap anyway, and choose to get huffy if we like... which, as a matter of fact, we did not - probably because we hadn't read the thing.

Carolina & Anne looking up to God, The Heavens, and Summer Locke on 'The Trough'
Tahquitz, CA Photo: Summer Locke

After spending six hours in a state of sheer terror... and now that we have read the aforementioned material, we'd like to correct the (undoubtedly untrustworthy) information therein. We are near-positive that we were the first to ascend this route. :) Additionally, we are certain that the route should, in reality, be rated 5.13d. This is mostly due to the fact that Carolina had to pee 'real bad' for the last three pitches... and also because squirrels ruined Anne's pack and ate all the bleed'n trailmix.

Some notes for all you aspiring multi-pitchers out there: Stop! Think for a moment about what you are wanting to do. Ya usually gotta hike up some godforsaken, rediculously steep trail... with all this gear... then you count yourself lucky if you can even find the route. All of a sudden, you're hanging on the side of a cliff looking at some rock named 'Suicide' accross the way. After that, there is only one thought running over and over through the altitude stunned mind; "We're gonna have to call 'Search&Rescue'!"

Inevitably, there is fear and hunger and cold and having to pee and rethinking your life and lots of praying (that ya could do in church, which is safer - and warmer) and finally, the post sundown descent into complete blackness. Sometimes, animals get into your stuff... sometimes you get off route and then you're lost on a mountain - in some strange state that's gonna fall into the ocean real soon...
We at Wander Women Mountaineering do not recommend this!

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