Merriam Peak, Croft-Rands Right(III 5.11) and Left(III 5.11)

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teleross
TeleRoss
from on the beach
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Merriam Peak, Croft-Rands Right(III 5.11) and Left(III 5.11)

Post by teleross »

A few weeks ago I got an email from my old friend Mark Westman, Alaska alpine hardman extrodonaire, who was going to be climbing around the Sierra for the month of August and was fishing around for a partner for some days that he had open on his schedule. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it happen as the days he was suggesting immediately preceded my 5 day trip that I had planned with Trish, and I didn't really want to take that much time off work. However, after a fortuitous turn of events at work, I changed my mind and decided to make a three day climbing plan with Mark.

We waffled over objectives, with weather, fires, and hiking vs. climbing ratio all playing into the decision. Eventually we settled on the north buttress of Merriam and the two new fine looking routes that Peter Croft and Lisa Rands had put up in 2011, aptly named the Croft-Rands Left and the Croft-Rands Right, two independent lines snaking up their respective side of the prow of the buttress, and both 6 pitches and 5.11.

What transpired was one leisurely half day hike up through a steep canyon to some beautiful sub alpine meadows and further up into a high alpine basin below several 13,000' peaks, followed by two days of climbing steep sick routes on beautiful alpine granite! Not bad at all for our first time climbing together.

I'll let the pics tell the rest of the story:

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as a side note, after reviewing available info, and comparing pictures, it seems that Mark and I climbed a new two pitch variation to the Croft-Rands Right with the pitches going at 5.11- and 5.10+.
We managed to follow the Croft-Rands Left without any detours along the way.
:)

teleross
TeleRoss
from on the beach
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Re: Merriam Peak, Croft-Rands Right(III 5.11) and Left(III 5

Post by teleross »

A little more photo bombardment courtesy of Mark Westman

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Yeah dawg!
good times :)

E_$
imminent whippage

Re: Merriam Peak, Croft-Rands Right(III 5.11) and Left(III 5

Post by E_$ »

looks like an island of Incredible-Hulk-style granite in a sea of choss

awesome

in the campsite pic, is that brown water a traditional ration of whiskey, or some other shite like iodine or electrolyte plunk?

teleross
TeleRoss
from on the beach
Contact:

Re: Merriam Peak, Croft-Rands Right(III 5.11) and Left(III 5

Post by teleross »

I do believe that's the whiskey. Trader Joe's finest single malt scotch. Actually pretty darn good for $20. Better than Jameson.

teleross
TeleRoss
from on the beach
Contact:

Re: Merriam Peak, Croft-Rands Right(III 5.11) and Left(III 5

Post by teleross »

E$...speaking of the Hulk...when are you coming down so we can send some shit?

E_$
imminent whippage

Re: Merriam Peak, Croft-Rands Right(III 5.11) and Left(III 5

Post by E_$ »

ah yes, i've been toting TJ's Kentucky bourbon (it is made by Buffalo Trace), a spirit of considerably high value.

i've got a sierra jones, we should talk...

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