Carbondale Short Bus 5.14R for Brad Gobright

Gripped March 29, 2018

Brad Gobright has made the fourth free ascent of Carbondale Short Bus 5.14R in Indian Creek.

Gobright is one of America’s all-round top climbers with a number of bold solos and hard big walls to his name.

The first ascent of Carbondale Short Bus was in the spring of 2012 by the late Hayden Kennedy. Nick Martino had projected the climb for some time before Kennedy’s send.

Kennedy wrote on MountainProject.com about the climb, “A wild line with varied movement and thin gear. The route is much easier the taller you are, the grade is very height dependent. I TR [top roped] the route before going for it on the sharp end. The gear is good but there are some run-outs on Purple and Grey C3 size pieces.”

One of the cruxes is the final crux where you have to dyno from the crack to a slopey sandstone hold on an arete.

The hard route has attracted a number of strong climbers over the years. It’s found on the 4X4 wall.

Matt Segal made the second ascent in 2015 and James Pearson the third ascent of 2016.

Gobright wrote on Instagram, “I sent Carbondale Short Bus today! Major respect to Hayden Kennedy for making the FA. One of my biggest heroes.

“I climbed it with a preplaced cam instead of placing it on lead with a crash pad. I found I couldn’t reach the placement from this kneebar and I would have had to solo the first 20 feet.

“I can’t risk breaking my back again. Regardless, I’m psyched on climbing my hardest trad lead to date.”