I was out with old friend and former student Denise Magner yesterday. We used Alias as an approach to Red Line and had a good outing in the shade. That first pitch of Alias presented a problem, however. You'll recall the two bolts protecting the overhang, the bolt at the end of the grassy ledge and the first traverse bolt about twenty feet after that. When I reached that traverse bolt I found that the oak tree blocked all progress. Bushwhacking through it would have been unpleasant for the oak and likely impossible for me. I went straight up instead on good rock at about 5.5. All was well, but it's quite a run to the belay. Do you think it would be okay to put a bolt in on that section, ten or twelve feet above the traverse bolt? This little variation would be a good thirty feet to the right of the next bolt on Alias.
