How strong is Pinnacles rock? Would a well set bolt fail before the rock?
Pinnacles rock is volcanic in origin – basically a rhyolitic, magma slurry. As the flowing magma from the areas volcanoes cooled it picked up rocks that remain embedded in the resulting formations. These rocks range from pebbles to car-sized boulders. Uplift and erosion created the formations we see today from those magma fields. So, what does all this mean in terms of rock strength? Sadly, the truth is you can’t say. The quality of the rock can vary dramatically over an area of just inches. Some rock can approach the quality of granite while other simply qualifies as hardened mud. This is precisely why you see seasoned Pinnacles climbers tapping the rock – listening for the tell tale hollow sound that belies weaker rock. The answer to your specific question is understandably complicated by these factors; A perfectly placed bolt in bad rock is still a bad bolt. Never the less, I think it is safe to say that a well placed bolt in “ideal” Pinnacles rock, subject to repeated falls, will r
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- How strong is Pinnacles rock? Would a well set bolt fail before the rock?
