This is a pillar in Zion with a climb called Ashtar's command. It runs um the middle for the first pitch of crack climbing. After that it heads up the dark section on the right for some fairly run out bolted face climbing.
The first time in Zion, this happened when up the first pitch. Luckily for me, there were 2 people above me who's rope I borrowed to lower down and pull all my gear out. We then did some top roping.
This time though, there were no storms and I was on my way up again. The first pitch went prety easily and then I jumared to clean it.
The climb is right above the road that heads east through the tunnel. Lots of cars bank up before being allowed through the tunnel and so there are plenty of spectators, many of which have some very sage advice such as, "Don't fall." or "Be careful". Needless to say that I took their advice.
"Don't slip!" yells the driver.
"I'll do my best", I replied.
"Layback off your right hand and high step," called the elderly, female Harley Davidson passenger.
"Gotcha", I called back in the local lingo.
On the second pitch, I had much call for procrastination while trying to turn 5.9 protected moves into 5.7 moves. I wasn't very trusting of my Gregory gripping the rope based on the pull tests I did prior to climbing and so the usually well protected moves strait above a bolt didn't feel quite so good.
It is nice to jumar with a view.
Coming up to one of my re-anchorings that I placed on rap to stop my rope rubbing through on the rough sand stone up above from my bouncing.
A quick bit of lunch and I was done. My first onsight lead solo overseas on sandstone on a Monday.
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