Routes in Mother Wall

** There is an Owl nest, in the cave behind the grass patch you see on the ledge. Avoid climbs Rum and Rasam & Beku Beku, during Owl’s nesting season.

The first bolt is a bit of a runout. After you scramble about 15-20 meters to the ledge that forms the start of this climb, the first bolt is another five odd meters higher up in the corner. A fall before you clip the bolt in the corner, will certainly cause much damage. Hence the rating of R/X.

The moves in this corner climb, that transitions to a slab are quite interesting, and would have been more fun, if not for the flakiness of the holds. Despite the rating of 5.10b, I think the moves here are no harder than 5.9, but the ‘choss’ factor drive up the grade, I suppose. I found the route to be simpler than High on Grass**

After six bolts, the climb eases up, and then after the eighth bolt, you won’t see any bolts further.

There are two options here. One, you either continue climbing and angle left to join the second pitch of ‘Rum and Rasam’ and finish the route in one entire rope length, with an additional bolt protecting the rest of the 5.5 rated pitch, or, two, do the mildly exposed sharp left traverse from the eighth bolt to the P1 anchor station of ‘Rum and Rasam’ to break this up into two pitch climb.

Route credit, Pranesh Manchaiah.

** There is an Owl nest, in the cave behind the grass patch you see on the ledge. Avoid climbs Rum and Rasam & Beku Beku, during Owl’s nesting season. Alternatively, these climbs deserve an alternate start.

P1: 5.7. 35 meters from the ledge, or 50 meters from the ground level. 5 + 2 bolts.

This is a really good 5.7 (possibly mixed Sport) climb for the beginners. A short crack of about 5 meters can be protected with BD size #2 or -#3 cams. Or can be runout.

P2: 5.5. 30 meters. 1 + 2 bolts.

The route angles left from here. There is a good line directly below the bolts for a future route.

Exit: Rap off using a 70-meter ropes. Or a 60-meter rope, if you are comfortable with downclimbing on easy terrain.

Route credit: Dinesh Kaigonhalli and Pranesh Manchaiah, Ground up bolted.

P1: 5.7. 35 meters.

See above for P1 shared bolts until the end of the ledge. The route after the ledge is in the gulley, with the bolts placed to the right. This second half of the P1 gets into a steep gully for about 10 odd meters, has some nice moves and is well protected.

P2: 5.10a. 40 meters.

Pitch two is a bit flaky in places, with some really nice side pull moves on slab. Bolt two to three on P2 is a bit runout with flaky holds, and accumulated loose mud, and a fall here will get you all the way to the anchors. But relatively easy terrain. Two crux moves on the P2.

P.S. Looks like I didn’t count the bolts here!

Exit: Traverse to High on Grass**, and rap off on 60-meter rope.

Route by Prani and Seema

Routes Inspiration and Chai, Comfortably Numb, and Pranic Drilling share bolts till the ledge that starts about 25 odd meters from the base.

Starts immediately left of the gulley and ends back at the P1 -anchors of route Inspiration and Chai.

The route after the ledge feels stiffer than the given grade.

Second pitch merges with route Inspiration and Chai, Inspiration and Chai.

P1: 5.10a. 45 meters. 11 + 2 bolts.

First pitches of the Routes Inspiration and Chai, Comfortably Numb, and Pranic Drilling share the bolts till the ledge about 25 odd meters from the base. After the ledge, the route starts on the face, about 3 meters to the left of the gulley, and is a sustained 5.10a for about 15-20 meters until the anchor station. Falling from above the 1st bolt after the ledge (3rd bolt on the pitch) could potentially deck you on the ledge.

P2: 5.9+. 35 meters. 8 + 2 bolts.

The previous pitch’s stiff slab continues for a short distance (first three -four bolts) after the anchor station. Thereafter, it eases up, progressively, until it becomes scrambling terrain.

Exit, traverse to High on Grass anchor station about 30 meters to the left of the top anchors. Top anchors shared for Inspiration and Chai, Comfortably Numb, and Pranic Drilling.

Route by Prani and Dini.

P1: 5.8. 28 meters. 5 + 2 bolts.

The first bolt is about 30 odd feet from the ground, on 5.5-5.6 terrain. Bolt 4 to 5 can be a potential ledge fall.

P2: 5.11a. 50 meters. 13 + 2 bolts.

Sometimes placement of the bolts in relationship to the line is critical to get the most out of a Sport line. And the brilliant bolting here makes this route sublime for someone pushing into the 5.11s. Allows for the rush with seemingly out of reach bolts at times, and then keeps the climb largely safe. You shouldn’t come out of this climb with more than bruised and bashed, knees and ego, at its worst. So, if you want to push your limits, absolutely throw yourself at this climb.

The crux is in getting from bolt 1 to bolt 2, and the section is ever so slightly bulging out. The crux requires a degree of commitment than the actual technical difficulty of the moves. The route is sustained higher 5.10 slab, thereafter. It doesn’t let up until the last 30-40 feet of the pitch. Extremely well protected.

Exit: Traverse to High on Grass**

Route credit: Pranesh Manchaiah

P1: 5.9. 25 meters. 6 + 2 bolts.

Starts in the corner, switches back and forth between the slab and the corner crack. The short pitch ends below the overhang. The climb is fairly new, so still shedding rock, but very enjoyable.

P2: 5.11a. 50 meters. 11 bolts + 2.

Reaching the first bolt is a bit heady considering the ledge fall, but an easy lower 5.10 or lower grade move.

The route kicks up in grade after the first bolt, and the crux is between bolt one and bolt three. Requires you to use a corner crack, stem, side pull, slab climb, edge, crimp, and a repertoire of skills, in a very short section. As of 2017, the holds are flaky, and corner a bit chossy. Once this settles down, the moves will be much more enjoyable.

The route remains a stiff slab climb till the sixth bolt of the pitch. Thereafter it eases up. If you may not see the bolts, as they are bit hidden, so climb the most natural line, and you will find them.

Exit: Traverse to High on Grass**.

Route by Prani.

P1: 5.9+. 30 meters. 9 + 2 bolts.

Feels harder than a 5.9, especially after the third or the fourth bolt. The crux ends quickly, but a sustained 5.7/8 moves to the anchor station.

P2: 5.7. 30 meters. 8 + 2 bolts.

Steep, exposed and extremely enjoyable pitch for the first half. Maillons on each station to rap off.

Exit: Rap off with a 60-meter rope.

Route by Prani, Seema and Dini.