So we started hiking into the wilderness by El Rito early in the afternoon with ambitious plans. Naomi was psyched to lead some thin 5.11. I was game for a new route. Patrick was along for a proper Questa Dome baptism. I looked at the first pitch for a long time, because it scared me. It starts with thin, steep parallel cracks; very awkward climbing with thin gear. Visions of broken ankles beseiged my mind and I started with some "fraid" (free-aid) climbing.
Eventually the climbing becomes unquestionably classic through the second half of this 50+ m pitch.
Patrick follows the cool face moves on the upper part of the first pitch.
Patrick near the chains.
Naomi got what she wanted. Here she moves past a bolt on some real live slab climbing.
The winds were whipping fiercely; she was blown off thin cruxy moves several times but she persevered.
Naomi prepares to clip from a "great stance" before a 25-foot runout.
Perhaps Patrick wondered what his lead held in store after those first two pitches.
Patrick cruises through the classic crux move of the third pitch from "A Question of Balance."
Looks like he liked it.
For all our tenacity through tenuous terrain, I was rewarded with the rowdy roof.
Hot damn that was a fun three days! I am one tired puppy today.
Is that rock as grippy as it looks? The slab climbing looks fantastic. Way to go Naomi for working through it. How far is this from your place?