The sit start to The Shutdown adds three or so great moves to the already really fun topout problem!

 Start sitting partially on top of a rock directly behind the tree a few feet left of the original line. Left hand is a decent edge and right hand is a bad crimp directly below the starting left hand for the original line. Use the big foot rails to the right to pull off the ground and fire up to the better right hand crimp. Figure out how to get to the next crimp rail then huck for the sloper jug and launch into the dreaded topout.

The Shutdown Sit

The Shutdown

No Glasses Needed

The problem was named for the government shutdown, but it could easily have been named because of the nature of the topout.  

  Start on edges just below head height. Move up right hand to an edge and then throw left hand to a sloper-jug. The topout looks easy, but don't be deceived. Many a strong climber has been shutdown by the heinous topout. It's not quite the difficulty of Boulder X, but it's close.  

  In fall 2014, Alex Bridgewater completed the sit start by starting down and left. The Shutdown Sit clocks in at V7ish.

Shorter people might have an easier time starting this problem. If you are shorter get your right foot on the good chip and left foot as a toe hook on the arete. If you are tall sit with your hands on the good starting hold with your left foot on a good chip and your right foot flagged. Pull off the ground and reach for the arete then pop out right to the lip match the lip with decent holds and throw a heel up. Top out boulder. 

  This is a fun little pop problem. Have fun.

The Shutdown Boulder is so named because it was developed during the ill-conceived government shutdown of 2013. It sits about 50 yards to the west of We Who Wander and is identified by a beautiful steep south face. This face holds perhaps the greatest prize still waiting at Welch and Dickie--a beautiful but brutal line of crimps up the face.

Description

Location

Routes in Shutdown Boulder