Last week Richard and I climbed The Prow on Washington Column. This was the first time I had ever slept in a portaledge and the first time I have ever done a route where you have to haul all your gear up with you.
The route is steep and exposed, tall compared to the rest of the planet but a short wall by Yosemite Valley standards.
Props to Richard for swinging leads with me, all his help with rope management and hauling, and his easy-going attitude.
The plan was to do it in a day.
We left the apartment at 4:30am on Tuesday and got back at 3:00pm on Wednesday.
From the route description on Mountain Project:
The Steck-Salathe truly deserves its status as one of the “Fifty Classic Climbs of North America”. Everything from the climbing itself to the many stories of adventure had on the north face of the Sentinel makes this climb a must-do for any aspiring Valley climber — if not a route to be repeated again and again, it certainly should at least be seen as a rite of passage. The climb’s reputation for being long, wide, and physical is well deserved, but the quality of that climbing, the position one achieves, and the overall sense of adventure the route offers should not be understated.
Big ups to my roommate and friend Stewart Williams for being such a baller.
The first day of my life climbing on El Capitan. Perfect weather. Thrutched my way up the first two pitches of Zodiac by myself.
Featuring maneuvers such as cam hooking, a horizontal roof section, many many offset cam placements, and even a bit of free climbing!
A day of adventure with 2 incredible human beings.
Many photos and general awesomeness courtesy of Ben and Lindsey.
They travel a lot and write about it here:
Sandstone climbing just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. Highlights were the Original Route on Rainbow Wall and Epinephrine.
Cole and I climbed Moonlight Buttress. This involved a day to climb the first several pitches, a rest day, and then we did the route in a day. I don’t have pictures from the ascent day because my camera broke on this trip (again).
A chap by the name of Alex Honnold got famous by climbing this route without a rope in a little over two hours on April 1, 2008.
How I spent my birthday. Took the alternate route completely bypassing the 2nd and most of the 3rd pitch. Some of my proudest climbing ever.
Came back to give Invisible Airwaves another hammerless attempt. Made it to the first bolt on the second pitch again and bailed again. Must be getting better though as it was less horrifying this time.
My first time on the North Side.
Drive-bike-walk-climb-walk-bike-drive.
