Finger of Fate Goes Free

Britons Ben Bransby and Pete Robins have freed the classic Finger of Fate route on Utah's Titan, according to www.ukclimbing.com. The Finger of Fate was the original route on the 800-foot giant of the Fisher Towers, established in 1962 by George Hurley, Huntley Ingalls and Layton Kor. Englishman Stevie Haston attempted to free the route in 1996 but was unwilling to risk falls onto the 34-year-old bolts of the final two pitches. Haston returned several years later and completed the first free ascent of the Titan via the Sundevil Chimney.

The Finger of Fate was rebolted in 2004, opening it to further free attempts. Bransby and Robins reportedly found climbing up to 5.12c on the eight-pitch climb, which is cleaner than most of the muddy Fisher Towers routes because of its relative popularity as one of the Fifty Classic Climbs of North America.