This route is very unusual for the Fortress--steep and strenuous with lots of dynamic movement.  Many of the holds on the route are opposing side-pulls or pinches.

The decisive crux of the route is passing the second bolt.  The remainder of the route checks in at sustained 5.9.

Classically Liberal

Consumption Dysfunction

Natural Rate of Unemployment

Invisible Hand

Free to Choose

Capitalism & Freedom

Rose

Adaptive Expectations

Permanent Income Hypothesis

Airy and exposed climbing up one of the most striking aretes in the Fortress.

The crux of the route is right off the ground, passing the first bolt (5.9+).  The remainder of the route is steep and sustained (5.8).  The last 40 feet are unbelievable!

A 60m rope is an absolute MUST as the route itself is approximately 55m long and the rappels are 30m each.

The route follows a meandering line up a shallow water streak which leads to steep face climbing on the left side of the formation.  The crux involves a few awkward moves past the second bolt.  A second crux involves a few insecure moves past the fifth bolt.  In general, the route is marked by steep and sustained but only moderately difficult face climbing.

Be careful not to pull on out on the large, loose flake to the left of the third lead bolt.

The Natural Rate of Unemployment follows a series of flakes and edges up the steep face on the left hand flatiron of the Fortress.  The crux involves awkward stemming and thin face moves through the middle section of the route. This is followed by easier climbing to a set of rap rings next to the prominent pine tree near the top of the formation. A single rappel or lower with a 70 meter rope from the rings by the pine tree will get you back to the base.  If youre climbing with a 60 meter rope, continue 6 meters (easy 5th class) past the tree rings to the anchors at the top of the formation and rappel Capitalism & Freedom (two rappels with a 60 M).

Fifty feet of delicate face climbing leads to an exposed summit.  The crux involves a few tenuous moves past the 2nd bolt.

Descend using the rappel route of "Permanent Income Hypothesis."

Free to Choose follows one of the most obvious lines in the Fortress--2 pitches of airy and aesthetic arete climbing.

Pitch 1 (95 feet, 5.6/5.7) follows 9 bolts up a unique, 3-feet wide knife-blade  arete.  Cross the gully and belay from bolts.

Pitch 2 (85 feet, 5.8) follows 8 bolts up the ever-steepening arete to a dihedral and finishes on a ledge with bolts.

2-rappels with a 60-meter rope will get you down.

Two sustained and varied pitches up the large formation on the left side of the gully, opposite "Permanent Income Hypothesis."

Pitch 1, "Capitalism" (5.10a/b, 80 feet, 5 bolts)

Steep, edgy face climbing.  The crux is reaching and passing the second bolt.  Belay at a ledge from bolts.

Pitch 2, "Freedom" (5.9, 85 feet, 8 bolts)

Face climbing, chimneying, and liebacking make for an extremely varied pitch. The faint of heart will want additional pro through the crux sequence above the fifth bolt (the crack takes a #1 TCU up to 1.5").  A thought-provoking, slabby finish takes you to an airy and exposed summit.  Belay from bolts.

Climb a left-leaning crack.  One stout 5.9 move off of the ground yields to very pleasant and moderate climbing up the crack.  Eventually the crack ends at an arete shared with "Permanent Income Hypothesis."  Follow the last 2 bolts of that route to the summit.

Descend by using the Permanent Income Hypothesis rappel route.

Varied and interesting face climbing up the steep headwall in the amphitheater that separates P.I.H. and Capitalism & Freedom.

One heads-up move off the ground (5.8) leads to the first bolt.  Climb an easy ramp up and left to a small ledge and the second bolt.  Step left onto small face holds and follow five more bolts to the summit.  There is a distinct crux encounter at the 5th bolt.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in Right Side Gully