Jack Knife is the prominent cleft in the large boulder at the top of the purple climbers trail, just left of Orient Express.  It is undoubtedly one of the best 5.5s in the park and provides the most direct access to Cave Crack on the wall above.  Climb a short face to a low angle, right-angling hand/fist crack.  The crack is a lot of fun, protects well, and has positive hand and fist jams all the way to the top.  The crux is a slightly steeper section about two-thirds of the way to the top.  Two rappel bolts are located at the top of the rock on a small summit block.

Jack Knife

Orient Express

Practice slab

Hard Hands

As the name suggests, a large slab of crystalie goodness to practice standing on edges, nubs, and grit. 

  Beginners will learn a lot practicing trusting their shoes here on TR.

Orient Express is a fun bolted route on a large, narrow boulder behind the Practice Slab and right of the obvious Jack Knife crack.  Begin off three chockstones at the base of the route (good belay ledge below the chockstones).  Climb the steep face past four bolts using small scoops and dishes for your feet and a collection of large crystals and small edges for hands.  The crux is clipping the second bolt, and the moves above the third bolt are equally interesting.  At the third bolt, climb up and right to a very positive flake that leads to the fourth bolt.  There is a little run out to the top of the boulder.  There is a set of anchors on the wall behind the top of the boulder.  The best bet is to rap off and pull the long end of the rope through to minimize rope drag over the sharp, crystalline granite.  Felt a little harder than the 5.9 rating.

Find an angling, small hands to wide fingers crack that moves up and left. The crux is about 10 feet up and requires powerful jamming and careful footwork. Protects great though it can be strenuous to place.  

  Descent: Class 4+ or 5.0 walk off straight back and climbers left, along the face of the rear wall. Could also be linked with a 5.8 sport climb (rightmost of the two) along this face (although its a scary move to make the first bolt).

Throne Rock is the name given to a collection of routes that ascend the large boulders on the right side of the main Echo Canyon area.  There are two very good routes in the area  Orient Express (5.9) and Jack Knife (5.5).  The first boulder contains the Practice Slab, an easy top rope face.  There are three routes on the boulder behind the Practice Slab (including Orient Express), while the large boulder leaning against the wall at the top of the purple climbers trail contains Jack Knife.

Description

Protection

Routes in Throne Rock Area