Indian Face
Indian Face is a 45-metre (148 ft) rhyolite rock climbing route on the "Great Wall" of the East Buttress of Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, in Wales. When English climber Johnny Dawes completed the first free ascent of the route on 4 October 1986, it was graded E9 6c or (5.13a X), the first-ever E9-graded route, and was considered one of the hardest traditional climbing routes in the world.
| Indian Face | |
|---|---|
Crag of Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, Snowdon, Wales | |
| Location | Snowdon, Wales |
| Coordinates | 53.0792°N 4.0939°W |
| Climbing Area | Clogwyn Du'r Arddu |
| Route Type | Traditional climbing |
| Vertical Gain | 45 metres (148 ft) |
| Pitches | 1 |
| Grade | E9 6c (British) 5.13a X (American) |
| First free ascent | Johnny Dawes 4 October 1986 |
Indian Face is still considered one of the world's most intimidating traditional climbs, and even decades after its first ascent, it is rarely repeated. The ascent was an historic moment in the transition from traditional climbing as the dominant form of extreme rock climbing (in Britain, and elsewhere), to the safer form of sport climbing, which became the focus for the leading climbers.