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VBA & MGA from the approach ledges. Numbers correspond to the belay numbers in the SuperTopo topo. |
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Image capture from Terminator Chris D's view at the approach ledge to SRA. Chris T & I are below starting over to the ledges of VBA & MGA. |
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2 teams of climbers are ascending to the start of Sun Ribbon Arete. I later learned that 2 of them were my friends Chris DeWitt & Bryan Bell. |
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SRA from the ledges to VBA & MGA. First Tower is on the right & the Tyrolean is done just beyond the highpoint in this photo. |
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Starting the approach late from 2nd Lake. |
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Middle Palisade, Norman Clyde Pk, & Mt Williams at sunset (left to right). Firebird Ridge looks sweet in sunlit profile. |
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The Palisade Crest (proper) at sunset from the topout of Moon Goddess Arete. The traverse is awesome and I'd love to go back to finish it! |
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Tomorrow's objective - Venusian Blind Arete - seen from the end of Moon Goddess Arete. |
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5.6 section of the final pitch of Moon Goddess Arete. |
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Chris leading the final 5.7 pitch. Watch for loose blocks that are tempting to pull & stand on. Good hollow flakes too. |
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The 2nd to last pitch on the route (5.7), or our last pitch! See from the rappel. |
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Looking back at the annoying 15' rappel. It took longer than I had liked, but the downclimb here was a bit steep & difficult here (5.8?) |
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P13 & P14. Or was it P14 & P15? Whatever. (P6 & P7 for us)There are 2 pitches from the notch to the end of the route, which can be linked w/ a 70m rope (P7 for us). |
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A nice cl. 4 step on P13 of Moon Goddess Arete (our P6) |
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Cl. 4 ridge traversing. The rocks were mostly solid, and natural running pro was plentiful. |
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A big, exposed step across. Stretch! |
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Upper section of MGA, seen from VBA the following day. Brian is on P13 according to the SuperTopo topo. |
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Looking back at Chris beyond the crappy loose Ibrium traverse pitch, where I dropped down a ways, traversed a ways, and climbed back up about 30-40'. |
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Looking back on the crappy loose downclimb & traverse before I started heading up into the crappy loose chute. Doubles were helpful for rope drag here. |
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Crappy Ibrium traverse pitch. 'Only' class 3! |
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Climbers traversing around the First Tower, seen from Belay 9 (our 3rd belay anchor). |
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Looking down the 230 ft linked pitch I did up Ibrium Tower. Can you see Chris belaying a the notch? First Tower is below. |
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Upper Ibrium Tower from the 2nd white band where you traverse right. I think the clean & good 5.9 variation continues up the cracks from here? |
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Upper Ibrium Tower at the first white band. |
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Ibrium Tower from the notch. Numbers correspond to belays in the SuperTopo topo. I linked these 2 pitches w/ a 70m rope so I'm not as certain where Belay 7 is. |
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