THE TWIN OWLS
The Twin Owls have their own section due to the concentration and variability of climbs, and the potential for new ones. Additionally, TR climbing is available here. They are accessed from the main trail, on a trail heading south, maybe 50 meters from the parking area. The trail, cleared in mid-November, 2008, continues from the Owls to True Grit Rock, and on down to Gorilla Rock. At present, this trail is the only reasonable access to Gorilla Rock. The huge blocks between the Owls give pause to consider their origin and what calamities caused them to fall there. Freeze-thaw? Major earthquakes? Certainly some of the blocks still hanging onto the Owls will have their time to make a huge rumble, that is if someone is there to hear.
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Southeast face of the east Twin Owl
Un-named crack / face, said to be 5.11a. Topo and photo are shown in the Supertopo guide. Route name? The bolts may be 5/16" spikes.
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Southwest face of the east Twin Owl
Not able to garner information about either of these routes on the SW face of the east Owl. Unknown if there are top anchors. "B" appears to be a stellar crack route with an airy start. Editor would appreciate any available information.
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Northeast face of the west Twin Owl
Anchors placed by John Robinson, more or less as a finish to a route up the left arete. The crack at the bottom of the photo extends several meters downwards into a cave-like area and the entire crack system appears to be of excellent quality. It also appears that one could ascend the arete on the right, and perhaps diagonal across the flake / crack with the white / grey edge, just below the ? marks. Editor would appreciate information on these from anybody who has climbed it / them.
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Southeast corner of the west Twin Owl
The SE corner of the west Owl. This appears to be a fine route in a crack system, with an airy start. It could go all the way to the anchors shown, via the sharp arete. A longer route was done some time ago, starting to the right of the 10c route shown below, then climbing this system to the anchors. John Robinson describes it as good at bottom and top, but middling in the middle.
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Southeast face of the west Twin Owl
The right-hand route is shown in the Supertopo guide, but there is no description or rating; John Robinson describes it as a good route all the way, and calls it 5.10c. There is a good TR route to the left of the right-hand route. The left-hand route is said to be 5.8, but is bolted for a more advanced climber; certainly a fall reaching the first bolt (about 4 m up) would cause a serious injury. There is a nice TR 5.8 to the left of the left-hand route. A shorter tower to the left of this Owl has a fun easy knob route which can be TR'd.