Isosceles Peak

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David Wilson

climber
CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 29, 2009 - 02:54pm PT
Isosceles Peak, West Face, Left Side ( II, 5.10a ), The Tangerine

After a long hiatus from new routes in the Sierra, in July 2007 I found myself with a rope in my pack and a willing partner in my son Chase. Fearing incipient cracks, I was hesitant starting up the prominent orange wall that was his choice. Fortunately, what we found on this new route was excellent granite and cracks bristling with fragrant Polemonium.

On the lower left side of the West face of Isosceles peak is a prominent orange wall. This wall lies approximately 50 feet to the left of the central chimney and crack system on the face. Proceed up the orange wall changing cracks from left to right. The rock and protection is surprisingly good and a ledge is reached after a full 60 meter pitch ( 5.10a ). On the second pitch, follow corner systems up and right to a white dihedral with a finger crack ( 5.9 ) to a belay at the central crack system. From this point on the route likely follows the previously ascended central route up one pitch of off width ( 5.7 ) and then out right into blocky exit cracks ( 5.7 )





Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Jul 29, 2009 - 02:57pm PT
Looking good!
Batrock

Trad climber
Burbank
Jul 29, 2009 - 03:00pm PT
Good for you guys. That is a beautiful route in a perfect setting.

I hope to ease my son and daughter into climbing as they grow. My dad taught me to climb when I was 10 up at Williamson Rock near Los Angeles, I'm 42 now and still climbing with my dad on occasion.
Peter Haan

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Jul 29, 2009 - 03:02pm PT
Stunning David. Glad it turned out to be such a good climb!! I guess this formation is near the Palisades, right? You and Chase are doing your Dad/Granddad Les PROUD!!

best to you,
Peter Haan
TYeary

climber
Jul 29, 2009 - 03:08pm PT
I looked at this very line and thought it to be too loose and discontiuous. Glad you made it go with good style. The Sierra never fails to suprise me. I should jumped on it rather than stair from afar. Good job!
Tony
le_bruce

climber
Oakland: what's not to love?
Jul 29, 2009 - 03:10pm PT

Great!

Any more pictures?
David Wilson

climber
CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 29, 2009 - 03:23pm PT
Peter - Yes, this peak is on the west side of the Palisades in the Dusy basin

No more climbing photos unfortunately. We put the camera away under the rapidly thickening clouds....

Here are a few more of the peak


Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Jul 29, 2009 - 03:27pm PT
thx for the post, great pics. keep this puppy near the top.
rhyang

climber
SJC
Jul 29, 2009 - 03:31pm PT
Beautiful.
David Wilson

climber
CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 29, 2009 - 03:32pm PT
peter - recent trip to the valley brought chase and i and a friend to the base of the generator crack for a "let the old guy show you how it's done" session. i thought of you as we all humbly received a horse whipping by that polished stone...
Jingy

Social climber
Flatland, Ca
Jul 29, 2009 - 03:34pm PT
cool TR...

Love the pics
mucci

Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
Jul 29, 2009 - 03:35pm PT
Very nice line!

survival

Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
Jul 29, 2009 - 03:43pm PT
Holy Psychedelic Lichen Batman!!

What great pictures David.

I have never been in there, but now it's on the never ending list, d*mn you!

I hope my son will be rope gunning for me soon!!
Barbarian

Trad climber
slowly dying in the OC
Jul 29, 2009 - 04:30pm PT
I camped under Isosceles for the first time back nearly 40 years ago (on my first long Sierra trip). The peak captured my imagination then, and I have been back many times.
This looks like a fine route on a truly stellar peak. Congrats on a beautiful FA!
Peter Haan

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Jul 29, 2009 - 06:12pm PT
Well David, I recall you were a phenomenally talented young climber back in the seventies. It is just a matter of getting the hours in per year, you know.

Remember how if one had not climbed for a month one basically saw oneself as almost a non-climber, clumsy and inept and certainly not set up to lead anything important. A palace eunuch actually (g). The amount of honing required to lead really top end climbing pretty much precludes people with big lives and families, doing upper end routes. But the sense of adventure is what should be guiding us nowadays, since we are older and complicated. Something your dad has never lost sight of. So your Isosceles Peak route is just the deal!! Plus you have Chase to motivate you, a huge plus.

Most people get shut down by Generator Crack, but if you keep visiting it and really get into it, eventually most of what you need will come or come back! It is important to be able to climb it well, though, as it is really representative in many ways of what lies waiting for you just up the road! It is also highly indicative of one's degree of core strength, critical in climbing of any type.
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Jul 29, 2009 - 06:16pm PT
Very nice!

Oddly, we have an Isosceles Peak and a Polemonium Ridge just north of Vancouver, in central Garibaldi Park.
Peter Haan

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Jul 29, 2009 - 06:19pm PT
No MIghty Anders, you couldn't have. You guys take what's left. You only have irregular polygons, from what I am getting from you! All of Canada has been vectorized actually.
TKingsbury

Trad climber
MT
Jul 29, 2009 - 06:20pm PT
very nice!

Thanks for posting!
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Jul 29, 2009 - 06:25pm PT
Somewhere in the ladybug thread, there is a picture that shows'our' Polemonium Ridge, and possibly even of Isosceles Peak. Plus pictures of cool things like snow and glaciers and turquoise lakes, which are nice to look at on days like today. They have some cooling effect.
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=655919
le_bruce

climber
Oakland: what's not to love?
Jul 29, 2009 - 06:49pm PT
David Wilson, your photos are spectacular, thanks for sharing them.
Messages 1 - 20 of total 24 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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