Worthless one move wonder. May be easier for tall people.

FA: Chris Baxter, Andrew Bowman, 1972

Mr Chicken

Slither like a ferret behind the giant Watchtower flake, starting from Watchtower Crack (top pitch start) and ending up in the 'Watchtower Chimney'.

FA: Davey Jones, 1996

Arachnus Chimeny Chimney

Start as arachnus until the second pitch. Instead of veering right, just continue straight on nice chicken heads to join Watchtower Chimney's last pitch. Not a new route. Pitch two is one of many existing variants to Arachnus. Route will be left as-is for now until TheCrag works out a way of conveniently handling variants (could be some time)

You could join pitch two and three for a nice ~50 metre one. That's actually what I did by accident.

Arachnus

A truly great climb up the middle of the Watchtower. Many variants are possible in the middle section and many parties do the Minerva variant (described separately)

Start up the right-hand of the two deep cracks at the base of The Watchtower. This is just left of the undercat section and 9 metres right of the start of The 'Watchtower Chimney'.

1. (40m, 8) Up deep crack until it ends. Traverse 4 metres right, up over disconcerting bulge and follow crack to large ledge. (The first ascent traversed all the way to the right arete befor climbing bulge).

2. (21m, 8) Either climb up left of the belay or climb just right of the crack until below bulge and then step left over the crack.Belay on narrow ledge below overhang on left side of The Watchtower.

3. (14m, 9) Either climb straight up veering slightly right, or traverse right on smooth rock past ancient piton before moving right. Belay in a good cave on the right side of the buttress.

4. (30m, 8) Move left out of cave and up exhilirating wall to top. Prearrange your signals as communication is likely to be impossible from the top.

FA: Ian Speedie, Rob McQuilkin, 1964

Arachnus Variant (Minerva)

A very popular variant on 'Arachnus', but more serious because of the poorly protected section on pitch three.

Start: Start as for 'Arachnus'.

1. 40m (8) Up deep crack until it ends. Traverse 4 metres right, up over disconcerting bulge and follow crack to large ledge.

2. 12m (8) Up smooth wall just right of crack, traverse right, then up to small ledge below juggy crack through overhang.

3. 23m (9) Up crack, then balance carefully right (poor protection) for 4 metres. More easily up to cave belay.

4. 30m (8) Move left out of cave and up exhilirating wall to top. Prearrange your signals as communication is likely to be impossible from the top.

FA: Ivan Dainis, Gwenn Ward, 1965

FA: Ivan Dainis, Gwenn Ward, 1965

A Rack of Phobias

The right arete of 'Arachnus'. Quite fun and there are numerous possible variations.

Xenomorph

Might be a tad undergraded...

Start: Approach up any one of Watchtower Crack, 'Stumpy Tail' or 'Arachnus', or rap in from the top.

FA: Ingvar Lidman,

Stumpy Tail

Ascends the appealing 8m-wide wall which is left of Watchtower Crack and at right angles to the main slabs. Pitches 2 and 3 are both good, but the start of pitch 4 detracts. If you want a tougher outing, and/or a line which stays entirely on this slim face, start up 'Pumping' and finish up 'Xenomorph' for pitches of 24, 20, 23 and 26.

Start: Start as for Watchtower Crack.

1. 33m (12) Take Watchtower Crack (or 'Pumping', or Flamingo) to large ledge.

2. 20m (20) L up orange face past FH. Join diagonal crack to small ledge, then follow ramp to pedestal. Step up L onto short delicate face, then L to good belay cave on arete.

3. 10m (23) Up flake then over the L end of the roof. Traverse R past FH to big undercling move, then some steep moves to another good belay ledge on arete.

4. 50m (18) Step up R onto higher ledge, then the reachy lichenous face 3-4m L of Watchtower Crack, adequately protected by small-med cams. Slab easily up L until forced around the arete onto the 'Arachnus' face for the last 20m.

FA: Will Monks, Kevin Lindorff, 2005

Pumping

The thin undercut seam above the cave left of the start of Watchtower Crack gets a star despite the fiddly gear to start and the pathetic rap sling. The very bold second pitch is rarely done and is written up separately (Pumping Part II), in the 'Right Watchtower Face' section.

FA: Kim Carrigan, Mark Moorhead, 1979