Sandias, Great Escape from Yucca Flower Tower Route

Skiing and mountain literature, photos, and innovative media
Post Reply
User avatar
skykilo
olikyks
from Santa Fe
Contact:

Sandias, Great Escape from Yucca Flower Tower Route

Post by skykilo »

It's always an adventure in the Sandias. Yucca Flower Tower has one of the easiest approaches in the range, but for our first time there we still had to spend about 20 minutes scrambling, searching for the chains. I had the rope stacked so nice and thought I'd just drop it. A strong gust of wind at that very moment carried the rope to the top of a tree where it tied itself in a knot. After the first 20 feet on rappel I had to unclip, scramble some ledges, then climb a tree 500 feet or so off the deck to free the rope.

Eventually we made all the rappels without any skinny pull-cord induced shenanigans. I was eager to lead the first pitch, an exciting stack of roofs.
04, 00

Naomi leads the second pitch.
04, 01

It was fun to follow until I got to the part where she gave me prolific pendulum potential.
04, 02

At least that traverse to the other anchor put us on another route to climb this sweet, splitter finger crack.
04, 03

Naomi follows where it gets easier.
04, 04

Naomi eats a Luna Bar, preparing to kick some ass on The Great Escape (directly above and behind her).
04, 05

The Great Escape: beautiful!
04, 06

E_$
imminent whippage

Re: Sandias, Great Escape from Yucca Flower Tower Route

Post by E_$ »

killing it! exercise yo' game.

looks like spectacular climbing.

ryanl

Re: Sandias, Great Escape from Yucca Flower Tower Route

Post by ryanl »

you combine awe and laughter better than anyone I know dude. Always fun to read and hear what you're up to.

PeteH

Re: Sandias, Great Escape from Yucca Flower Tower Route

Post by PeteH »

Looks like the adventurin was worth the climbin.

Post Reply