The Krushchev is a fine three pitch communist line ascending the west face of the formation. It is a direct threat to capitalism.

Pitch one: Pick your poison. Either climb the obvious trough splitting the center of the lower formation (5.5 grovel) or the fantastic bulging slab on the left (5.5X). Or the molted face on the right (5.9 TR). Whichever way leads to a large ledge with a single bolt and poor gear belay. 100'.

Pitch two: Climb the bottoming/flared crack off the ledge (5.9) to a short section of brush battle. Or climb the cool slab on the right (directly above the bolt) 5.8 R. Pass the brush on the left and climb fun hands/slab up an ever narrowing formation. Use care with this crack as it leads straight to hell (or at least the hollow underbelly of the formation). ~100' of rope leads to a semi-awkward belay at a rounded spike.

Pitch three: Cool, semi-exposed slabbing up the pinnacle summit. Lead out across easy terrain following the humped-back spine. Run it out for ~twenty five feet through moderate terrain to a hidden hangerless bolt (I strangely came up short on hangers...). Ten more feet lead to a bomber horizontal crack and a step onto Fidel's Cap. A final bolt protects the fantastic 5.8 finish. Belay off a natural arch/hole on the tight summit. ~60'.

The Khrushchev

Operation Anadyr

Wookie Traverse

Probably not recommended but was a fun adventure.  Climb from the notch on the east side of the formation up a wide chimney with rotten rock.  Belay on a large ledgy section just below and east of the summit pinnacle.  Climb across and down the ledge system, through an eroding cave, and mantle onto the spine of formation at about the middle of Khrushchevs pitch three.  Clip a bolt and continue to the summit following Khrushchevs last pitch.  Rope drag will be a killer on this pitch.  Rap as per Khrushchev.

Climb the quality but runout slabs up the formation immediately south of the Cuban.  To find it, hike up and around south and east perhaps 100 feet from the Cuban, to the base of a nice slab.  Slab your way east with the sun at your back with the climbing easing after ~60 feet.  The slabbing isnt particularly hard, but theres no pro for at least the first 40 feet.  I thought the climbing would be easier, and once in, drilling was a more difficult option than just running it out.  Belay at a slung chickenhead and bolt at the top of the formation, about 40 feet down and south of the summit of the Cuban.  Rap off south and west.  Not worth doing on its own, but if youre in the neighborhood with the rocket already in your pocket, slab it up.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in Cuban Missile Tower