Inside chimney all the way up Reed's Pinnacle?

That way if you reach a point where it's too small, just come back up.

Once I went up while someone was struggling mightily with leading the second pitch. Always the supportive guide/coach, I started softly talking encouragement, "hang in there, your almost there, try to relax"

I was recently in the Valley.
I went down and did Reed's Direct with a couple friends and I had told these (very young and new to the Valley climbers) that I was not entirely sure of this but that I had heard that you could chimney behind the main/5.9 pitch of Reed's.

Ok another story in the back of my mind (for all these years)...

I could'a sworn that Base told me (something to this effect)...
That he was in the Valley (maybe his first time there) and that he headed down to Reed's to do the Direct.
As the story goes (in my feeble memory) he said he was leading up and unexplicable all these bomber nut placements he made were popping out. He was getting a little freaked as half the gear was popped out leaving large runs between, but worse...
"Why were these bomber placements popping out?"

I recall him saying that he was almost to the rest ledge before the short off width at the top when all of a sudden there was a big puff of chalk that came from inside the crack...
and then giggling, turning to laughter.
Any of that story sound familiar to you Sir?

Aloha and Godspeed.
TrundleBum

I think the story about Base is mostly true. I think it was Eric Barrett who was pushing the nuts out. He may have done one or two but certainly not all or most of them.

Just don't fall