Led by George Wysup, Tom Hill, and Carleton Shay.
This was one kickass climb. What a great day!
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The intrepid climbers set out | (945 KB) |
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We can still see the cars Let's make a break for it |
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Sandy Sperling demonstrating an ability to smile on the way to her doom |
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Sandy, still smiling. Later, I learned it was painted on with makeup. |
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First view of the headwall. We immediately took a split break. |
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Some of us tried to run away up the canyon's side | (821 KB) |
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Later, we wished we had run away. This is the team on the right side ascent. (The headwall is actually much steeper than this photo makes it seem -- the photographer is lying at an angle hugging the ground.)
You can see a climber in the center on "Pat's Rock", waiting |
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The ill-fated attempt to climb the left side of the headwall. Only three climbers successfully made the caprock and traverse. Five turned back, and four made a low traverse of the headwall and ascended on the right |
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Karen and Tom, awaiting their turn to attempt the left side ascent |
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The view from the top. Yes, that is just about straight down ... |
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More climbers on the right ascent | (743 KB) |
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The dirt axe from Hell. It owns George | (894 KB) |
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Tom, out on the headwall keeping an eye on us | (433 KB) |
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The photographer pioneers an innovative self-arrest technique using only his digital camera, a penknife, and a half-chewed mouthful of gorp |
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Tom makes walking straight up vertical rock look easy | (869 KB) |
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The exhileration of success! | (369 KB) |
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The exhaustion of success! | (372 KB) |
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Later, on the summit | (768 KB) |
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Everybody grows impatient as the photographer fuddles | (769 KB) |
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The photographer joins the group is his disreputable, battered hat |
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I'll get even with her for this shot | (700 KB) |
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Yet one more group photo | (733 KB) |
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George, as climbers descend the headwall behind him | (868 KB) |
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More climbers descending | (867 KB) |
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The headwall telephotoed from a distance. You can clearly see the sandy left side and the crumbling gray rock on the right |
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The photographer practicing his self-arrest-with-camera technique on level ground. It works, I guess ... |
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Tom took a shot of Karen and Brian as we left the headwall | (447 KB) |
Kent Schwitkis' photos are viewable here.