Davis Ramp
The name of this route pays tribute to Ted Davis who possibly soloed it, or a different line on the Spider, in the 1970’s. This route ascends all the way up the couloir on the right side of the face before cutting left up a large ramp that stays mysteriously invisible from most vantages. If other routes are in good condition there’s not much reason to do this one. There have been multiple ski-descents of the couloir by people who have rapped in from above.
Stats
WI3. Wayne reported climbing a 5.6 hand crack at the end of the ramp, but the only other two ascents I know of, both in 2022, stayed entirely on ice at the top. The couloir itself is moderate, similar in steepness to the North Face gullies.
Description
Photo #1: Part way up the couloir.
Gain the couloir on the right side of the face and move through the two lower rock bands (as described for Center Drip). Then simply continue up the moderate couloir, hugging the edge to avoid any high-speed choss rocketing down from above.
Description
Photo #2: Nearing the base of the hidden ramp.
Gain the couloir on the right side of the face and move through the two lower rock bands (as described for Center Drip). Then simply continue up the moderate couloir, hugging the edge to avoid any high-speed choss rocketing down from above.
Once you’re at the top of the couloir follow a broad, icy ramp leading out left (WI2). The ice will likely continue up and around the corner to the right. From here Aaron Nelson and I were unable to find the 5.6 crack or really any other straightforward way up, so we kept traversing left across a shallow drainage to some thicker ice that curved up and right, following a rising shelf to the summit snowfield. Another group followed our tracks up this route several days later and likewise did not find a more obvious exit at the top.
