Photo Albums of Tim's Adventures - timsadventurepics

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Denny's Morning Ritual at 5:30am. Ask Bricia about the former gang member ... :-)

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Bald is beautiful ! Getting ready to huff-n-puff up to the base of the climb

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Finally made it, and no, Troy, we did NOT get LOST !

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All ready to go ! (But she can't figure out if she's too hot or too cold !)

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Taping up ... Tim sings the *Rocky* theme song ! (i have the video to prove it)

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Damn, who IS that handsome dude ?

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2nd pitch of White Maidens ... Look at the HUGE SMILE !

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Bricia is down there somewhere (little white helmet dot, dead center)

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Muscling thru the tough section...

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Of COURSE, the goofy self portrait!

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This section is the "money" pitch, and the namesake of the climb ... white stone, a white walkway

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Getting cozy at a tight belay, while Mark (SUPER COOL NICE 57 y/o dude) comes up. He was cheering Bricia on after a tough slip and slide section !

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Contrary to popular belief, that is a REAL smile ... awesome day !

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Dining on cheese, crackers and cherries... This girl is so photogenic !

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Mark took this picture of us having lunch. Who is the old guy with Bricia ?

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Mark was THE COOLEST !

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Signature foot shot while spitting cherry seeds ...

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This shot is looking straight down the White Maiden's Buttress while we ate lunch

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I was practicing my "over the head no-look" camera shot

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This is the "sad" pitch, cuz it's the LAST pitch ... boo hoo...

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Did I mention the weather was awesome ?

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Aw, the warmth of the summit, the glow of success !

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Great view of Idyllwild below from the summit blocks

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Those are the smiles of VICTORY !

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"Girl on Rocks", the highest point of Tahquitz.

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3 rock beasts ...

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2 *Rock* stars posing ... Tahquitz and Bricia

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Rock Ritual: Ahhhh, Chips, Margs, and tacos at La Casita

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Tim is goofing around while driving ...Sandra HATES it when I do this ! Hee hee !

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Sleeping Beaty, charging up her batteries on the drive to Josh.

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Goofball sisters, totally stoked to be at Joshua Tree on the amazingly beautiful day in April ...

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Mandatory goofy self-portrait

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Sandra and Bricia are TOURISTS !

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Super cool rock climbers

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Everybody has to carry something (it's a short walk in, though)

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After rigging 2 top rope lines, Bricia does her VERY FIRST rappell. Notice the Kleimheist for backup or panic (just in case)

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"On Rappell !" and down she goes !

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Done like a pro ! (like her sister Sandra)

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Super stud-ette, ready to go.

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Sandra loves to rappell

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That's a real smile, even for this POSE !

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Tim is on the "Action Cam", Bricia's first time out, just stepping on this 5.8 face.

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Up the dike she goes

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Sandra on belay,Tim on camera, Bricia on route

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Is that a fake flex, or is it real ?

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Tim's signature "over-the-shoulder" shot. I feel like Troy !

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Gettin' into the thin area ...

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Bricia maintains composer with quiet feet ...

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Nice perpective shot from the side. It's steep and thin

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Bricia "reaching" for the (relative) security of the crack

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VICTORY !

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Bricia now belays Sandra. Ladies first !

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"Twinkle Toes" negotiates the lower bulge ... This is the 5.8 move, and not obvious.

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But my climbing partner kicks off the dust and rust, and makes it look easy...

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Sandra's signature "guns", victory on display

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"The Sarge" takes a break. It had the camera in my pocket so no pics of me. My first climb outside the gym since my accident!

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Bricia working the 5.9 face now. YES, it is THIN up there !

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Thin, but INTENSELY FUN !

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"Ahhh, finally something to put my hand in !"

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Bricia completes after pulling the roof

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Sandra demonstrates great footwork up high where it's thin.

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Kids, THIS is how it's done !

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(Bob Marley theme) Jammin', We be jammin', jammin' til' the night is thru...

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Mandatory end-of-the-day goofy self-portrait ! YES, we had a BLAST !

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The trip begins ... Welcome to Austria !

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The high country is just beginning to peak thru.

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After a dark night in pouring rain and super small winding roads, we arrive in Corvara, and have a beer at "The Undergro

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Prost !

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Quite the crazy little bar in Corvara.

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Next morning, at 6am, we do a gear check before breakfast.

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Michael decides it is best to climb with clean teeth. I agree !

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The awesome lady of the house got up an hour early to make us breakfast so we could get at least a psuedo-alpine start.

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Yes, life is GOOD in the Italian Dolomite Alps !

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On the road to our launch point, Hotel Boe, we climb the serpentine road up above Corvara, hanging under the morning clo

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Michael is loaded with rope, and ready to walk up 3000 ft to get to the base of the climb.

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This is at the bottom of the ski area. The lifts are closed. Bummer ! We were planning on riding the lifts to the top fo

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1 hr 15 min, halfway up the 2nd lift, prob. 2500' up from the base. We are both sweating like pigs doing all this work.

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But we take a small break (cuz it's a DAMN STEEP road, too steep for a car, for sure) and get to see somewhat of a view

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Eerily silent, we are the only ones out.

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Alas, top of the last lift, red-faced and sweaty.

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In the mist, we couldn't see anything, so we pulled out the map probably 10 times to figure out where to go

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The old hut, looking quite, uh, er, OLD !

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Hey Michael, do YOU see anything to climb around here ? Where's the freakin' rock ?

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At last, some of the mist clears, and the classic Italian limestone starts to appear. Large, overhead, ominous, and FUN

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Let's do this !

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Finally, at the base of the Neuner, next to the Zehner, up the Vallon. We peel off and get ready to rack up, chalk up, a

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Thar she blows, first pitch of the Neuner. A dark, sharp jacket-ripping chimney.

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Overhead, the rest of the route appears thru the mist. No, that's NOT the sun.

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Michael, looking every bit the part, making all German climbers proud.

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Let's do this !

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With Tim back on the ground after gnarly 55 ft ledgefall and 2 broken ankles later, Michael is going to retrieve some pr

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First time off the ground outside of a gym

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The German Spiderman racks some gear.

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Up this slick little dyhedral, the forces of physics pull at his body

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He goes up to spot the piece that held my fall: a 1-inch Trango Flexcam that we must donate to the mountain gods as an

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I knew my right ankle was broken right away, so I taped it up tight with climbing tape, the Universal Medical Kit. See S

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On the trail of tears (and laughter), we amble down, slowly. We have about 1.5 miles to go out of this canyon, with an u

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I made Michael carry ALL the gear, while I hung on him during the "rescue". The route is left of the large notch, and is

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We are marvelling at (a) the beauty of the place, and (b) how far we've come on Tim's 2 broken ankles.

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Is that the face of pain, or joy, or both ? you decide.

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It's sorrow, cuz we can't climb ! Boo hoo hoo hoo ... :-(

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We reached the top of the Vallon lift station. Michael is getting ready to go down for help while I sit and wait. I brou

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Sitting in my little perch, not wanting to move, I snap a pic looking right up the Vallon.

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This is taken towards the south from the lift station.

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Ok, Don't forget the car keys, and the radio !

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The rain cometh.

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The rain goeth.

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The norther section of this southern wall starts to appear.

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Tape it up, and git'r'done.

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Self portrait. I think I look too serious here.

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Michael took off straight down the ski trail, mud, scree and everything.

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I walked (well, hobbled) to the rail and snapped this, 300meters (900ft) of vertical Limestone. THis place really is awe

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A perfect view up the vallon, a mile into the canyon. It's hard to see the perpective in this picture.

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There's the back of the canyon, complete with a little lake, waterfall and some snow patches. They're too far away to se

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IMG_4432.JPG 2009-09-26

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After a bit of time (1.5 hours) the boys in red show up, in style.

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I guess I get a chopper ride down ! I thought they were coming up in a 4-wheel drive.

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4 Italians SAR guys (2 SARs, and pilot& copilot)

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Once out of the clouds, this place is BEE-AUTIFUL from the air !

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Awesome Italian Guy #1, posing for Facebook !

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Awesome Italian Guy #2 (he's also a climber)

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I took this over my shoulder, blind, of the cockpit

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They higher you get, the more peaks show up. This place is summer and winter paradise.

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Nearing the town of Bruneck, 35km from Corvara.

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Preparing to land on the rooftop of the hospital.

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The culprits !

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Left ankle, Talis, fractured. Bummer. I thought I only had a mild sprain on this one, and walked on it the entire time f

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Right Ankle, Talis, fractured. This is the one I knew was broken and taped it up tight. You can still see the tape inden

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Self portrait, in the hospital, on the gurney.

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Dr. Martin Mauro, Awesome Italian Doctor #1. After delivering the bad news, the set to work on the plaster.

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Job done. This is going to be FUN ! .... NOT !

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Michael arrives at the hospital, amazed to find that I broke them BOTH, and managed to walk out of the vallon.

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Dr. Martin, laughing AT me !

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I wanted to get his name, cuz I'm going to send him some great Californian red wines for all his help.

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On the road from Bruneck to Corvara.

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In the morning, we were treated to what Corvara REALLY looks like. It was raining yesterday, so we didn't get to see any

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This is a direct shot up the S242, looking west, with the Sella group on the right. It is spectacular.

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Looking up the hill towards a different liftstation, service by gondolas.

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More above Corvara.

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Michael & I decide to drive around the Dolomites, to Bolzano and back in a big loop. This is the southwest side of the S

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The vallon is just on the other side of this peak.

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Hotel Boe, where we started yesterday.

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Sad reminder of what we are NOT doing on this most excellent day of weather.

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Town of Arabba, the ski area is massive !

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We are now on the backside of the Sella group. Everywhere you look, there is ski areas. This place rocks in the winter.

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We are travelling west, up to the Pordoi pass.

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Found this nice WWII gun placement bunker. This area was hot with activity in WWII.

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Piz Pordoi, the place we WERE going to climb first. The climb line is up the leftmost pillar, hit the gap, the up the mi

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You can see the gondola station, AND, the gondola was running today.

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This is the Pordoi pass, full of cyclists, motorcycles, autos, busses and people out enjoying a roadside beer.

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Coming down the Pordoi pass, a nice view of the Castinaccio.

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The 3 sections of the massive Sassolunga, with an awesome cloud

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Down the S242 towards Bolzano

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All these towns have this style of architecture

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Anytown, Dolomites, Italy. All beautiful !

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And a castle or palace or two to keep you dreaming...

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Up another pass...

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Unnamed town

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Welcome to the Dolomites !

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We hit Bolzano, couldn't find anything other than restaurants open, so back we come.

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I'm pretty sure this is the Alpe di Suisi, huge, lots of skiing beneath.

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Slightly obscured, Cima San Giacomo

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I don't know what this is, but I like it !

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DSCN0548.JPG 2009-09-27

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We stop, and Tim takes a LONG hike from the car, approx. 2 feet !

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View of Marmolada from the west, going east

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The glacier is active year round. It is end of summer (late september) and it is a winter scene up top.

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Pass Pordoi Tram station tickets.

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Back to the Sella group and the Hotel Boe

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Dropping down into Corvara

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We never got to see this Friday or Saturday.

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Small town nestled between the Dolomite groups

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A perfect "drive-by" shot of Corvara

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Back after a long drive, a nice cold beer !

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Here's a view I could get comfortable with ... except for the cast !

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Michael is resting his arms (well, the left one) after being Mario Andretti all day on these tiny winding roads

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Corvara, looking slightly west.

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Zoomed in

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My new Whisky-drinking friends... the Old Man and Sotara.

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Notice how my old friend, Jack Daniels, makes it into the picture... Thanks Diego !

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Around the corner, not 10 minutes from Corvara, is the Marmolada group, with 4800ft vertical of skiing, topped off at 34

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The higher we go, the more mountains appear in the distance.

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Time to modify these casts. I can't stand, or anything, I can only crawl, and I'm DONE with that !

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Michael der schuhster-meister (shoemaker-master) hard at work crafting new heels out of climbing tape and cardboard (fro

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Done with fabrication, now we go into final installation.

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DSCN0574.JPG 2009-09-28

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West edge of the Sella group

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On the road to Verona, there's this huge castle right in the side of the cliff

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Italian Road Travel Kit.

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Hey Michael, show us why the ladies think you are so popular ?

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Gourmet, Gas Station sandwiches and Coke... Mmmm !

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We drove for 6 hours to get to Rome. This is just outside the city limits

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closeup

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Packed and Ready, 7am. Hey, What ? Where'd those fishing poles come from ? This is a climbing clinic !

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Shirley and Scott roll up in Shirley's new ride ... NICE !

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There's a lot of BEEF in this picture ! rt to left, Mason, Deric, Troy and your's truly.

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Ok. FINALLY Sandra and crew arrive. "Let's get MOVIN'!", sez the Sarge.

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Clinic begins. First, we talk about safety and the "Power of Two"

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Everyone is completely captivated. Pictured, Shirley, Scott B. and his daughter Emily, and Mason's just waking up.

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Clinic continues. Bricia, Joaquin, Patty, Troy, Scott B and Emily.

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"This is a Quick Draw, or QD, or Draw. It protects my ass !"

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We tie into our harness like this with a Follow Figure 8.

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"Oh, did I mention, this saves my ass !" and it will save yours too.

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Hey, look at the airplane ! Just kidding.

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Eric (19), front row student, and future Search and Rescue dude, pays close attention.

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Hey, look at the airplane ! Just kidding again. Pictured, Tim, Joaquin, Sandra, Eric and Bricia.

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Alright already. Sheesh, stop talking ! When to we get to CLIMB, Sarge ?

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We broke up into 3 teams, and everyone tied their own Follow 8's, under the direction of the team leaders. Here, Troy's

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Shirley and Patty and Troy.

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Well Brett, did you learn anything in the clinic ? "I want to go fishing now, please"

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Lots of gear, lots of TOYS ! Let's get started ! Sandy and Eric are very proud of their knots, and Deric is thinking it

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Patty (Sandra's Patty) hasn't quite got the nerve to climb, and this is her 3rd clinic ! She was present 2 years ago whe

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Sandra's getting her game face on, ready to lead African Flake (5.6). We run 2 pitches together, 180 feet. for a fun, lo

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There goes Spiderman-girl, with EVERYBODY watching. Hmm. this might be a REALLY bad time to fall, Sandra !

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GQ Troy, posing at the route map sign. Check out the guns ! Ladies, can you say man-beef ?

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Sandra's on the run, staying calm and cool, making it look real easy...

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I'm talking to Eric, showing him how to belay, cuz he's going to belay Troy on another rope.

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Sandra tops out. She trailed a 2nd rope, will tie a Double Fishermans thru the chains, and rappel.

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On rappel, Sandra "cleans" the route (picking up the gear she used to protect herself on the way up)

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Safely back on Mother Earth, she receives a round of applause from all the clinic trainees. Scott B's Emily, can't wait

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Deric is pumped, and is the first Guinea Pig.

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Hey, I'll just run up this thing like Sandra did. Holy Cow, it is WAY HARDER than it looks !!

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Deric FINALLY calms down, takes the coaching, and starts to finesse it a bit, stepping "gingerly".

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A closeup shows Deric winning the battle over his inner "oh know I'm going to fall" demons.

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A different angle.

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Sweet Victory, 18 stories up !

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And little Em takes to the rock.

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Troy has his team up and rolling on Puppy Love (5.5)

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The climbing team of Arambula and Arambula tie in, hitch up and ...

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... launch ! Bricia seems like a natural, like Sandra was 2 years ago.

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Victory !

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Sandy takes the rock. It took her a while to trust her feet.

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Persistence (and listening to the coaching" pays, Sanday is moving with confidence.

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Up she goes.

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Tim is belaying Sandy. Scott and Tim talk about his climb on Troy's rope.

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Big Rock is a great place to learn. Picnic tables, shade, potties, and of course ROCK !

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Sandy is coming down, and her son Brett is going up.

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Great Family Fun !

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Ah dad, when is it going to be MY turn ?

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Patience Master Luke, sez Obi-wan.

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Sandy tried to talk Brett into finishing, but that didn't quite work.

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Mason is on the move.

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A close up shows him workin' it

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Sandra and sis Bricia discuss strategy for Joaquin.

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Sandra is showing Bricia how to belay her son.

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And up goes the little monkey, belayed by Mom.

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Kids are such natural climbers. They figure things out fast.

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Troy comes over from his rope.

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Dad, that was SOOO FUN !

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Deric looks ready to go again.

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AND, Patty is giving it a 2nd go, belayed by Tim (the Sarge)

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Alright Patty ! Great job ! "Can I come down now Tim?" No way, not til you reach the top !!

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You can do it Patty, You can do it !

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Patty gave it an awesome effort, and loves to get lowered. Sez it's fun !

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Bricia, back for more. Just like her Big Sis, Sandra.

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OK. My turn (FINALLY !)

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Up, up and away.

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Victory. Everyone packs up while I rig for rappel.

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Nice pic.

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Hey Tim, quite farting around and get down !

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Yes boss !

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Well kids, did we have a freakin' great time or what ?

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Group shot, less Eric, Patty, Scott B, Scott H, Shirley and Emily.

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And of COURSE, after Newbie Clinics, we go for tacos and beers and margaritas !

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Yes, my son Mason, ate BOTH of these huge burritos.

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Looking up at El Whampo (5.7), with an uber-classic 2nd pitch

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This is the route we took. The red squares are where we belayed, including a hanging belay !

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Sandra's looking to get back her MOJO, but looking up here is intimidating !

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Looking up the gully that leads up to the huge dihedral

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We put the shoes on and roped up her, to avoid doing this steep section in approach shoes.

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Lower half here is the huge roof of El Grandote (5.9). Go halfway up the corner, then climb onto the ridge before you ge

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Looks like Sandra found her MOJO, probably it was hidden in the bottom of her pack !

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Sandra has first pitch, with me on belay. Don't you just love my new red shirt ?

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Sandra's on the move ... just like old times !

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Looking up into the huge dihedral in the background

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Zoom in, mid first pitch

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Once at the first belay, some folks who gave us a route map of El Whampo, are over on Grace Slick (5.10b). It looked thi

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This crack is the ABSOLUTE MONEY PITCH ! A nice 150ft 2" splitter all the way ! An "easy swim" all the way up for a crac

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This route is worth doing just for this pitch alone. Crack Whores UNITE !

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I got a shot off of Sandra at the P1 belay in the corner of the Huge Dihedral (btw, that's what all the books call it, t

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Here's a shot from the P1 belay looking up at someone nearing the top of the 2" crack of P2.

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Now THAT'S what a Happy Camper looks like. That pitch was AWESOME !

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OK, Sandra's turn. Stepping off the P1 belay is a little scary, cuz it's a 5.7 face traverse, with a nice pendulum fall

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Sandra's in the crack, swimming her way up.

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Nearing the top, getting into a nice hands-in, both-feet-out section, solid 5.7

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Sandra's ready for lunch after some heavy grunting.

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Ahhh, reach for the chocolate bar !

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Me, on the move above the P2 belay ledge.

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Unfortunately, going up was right into the sun.

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I'm headed for this huge overhang. I'll deal with that when I get there.

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Here's the big overhang. Basically a big freakin' wall. The best way is to go around it to the right.

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I ran to the end of the rope, so I constructed a hanging belay, somewhere above this awesome 5.7 8-foot roof. Sandra too

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Little Red Climbing Hood, slingin' rope....

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Team photo at the end. Hey Sandra, Hey Tim, NICE HELMET HAIR !

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Driving down the mountain after tacos... (oh, and a margarita to wash it down)

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June Gloom is down below us, but we're above it all, so beautiful in the mountains.

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Right out of the car, we go up 1500' to the top of Pine Mountain (elev. 9648'). Here is Troy and Sandra, just breaking s

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First little rest, screwing around being photo whores, and here's the old man cedar that is accommodating us.

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Jason (left) and Tim pretend they're monkeys

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Ok, time to get moving, sez Jason.

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Ok, ok, ONE more picture !

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Sandra on the summit of Pine, at about 8:30. Jason and I got there around 8:20.

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It's so beautiful up here on the backside.

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No June Gloom Here !

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Peak No. 2 of 5. This is the top of Mt. Dawson (elev. 9575'), between Pine and Baldy. Great view of our ascent path, up

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The proof is in the picture.

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Suck in that gut, Tim !

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Daddy, are we there yet ? Damn, I just don't remember it being this hard ! 2 of 5 done, 3 to go !

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Someone lit a fire under Troy, and he took off, beating me to the summit by 5 minutes ! I tried to catch him, but honest

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I'm at the final summit crest, waiting for Jason and Sandra, dragging their tired butts up the final 100 vertical feet.

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Here's Sandra, pretending to be fresh for the picture.

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"Walk like an Egyptian !"

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Victory photo, with the summit plaque as proof. Baldy elev. 10,064'. Yea !

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Sandra likes the clouds in the background.

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Tim posing with Little Baldy (elev. 9989') in the background.

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I snapped this cool updraft on the way down Dawson on our descent, with only 1 more peak to go (a re-visit of Pine)

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Another perfect day above the clouds, morning light on Tahquitz. The crew, ready to roll. But first, SUNSCREEN !

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Gear check, a familiar scene before every climb.

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The climbing crew today: Eric & Tim will climb, Troy and Sandra will climb.

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North trail, Tahquitz peaks thru.

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We're all a little surprised to see snow late in the season. Troy enjoys the view.

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Holy Cow, we're going to climb WHAT ?

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There are SO MANY options and variations on The Larks.

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Sandra sez: Hey Troy, let's go up there, then belay there, then up and over there, blah blah blah !"

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It's been since November for Eric (Red Rocks) so he might not be feeling the Mojo for a first lead ...

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Alright teams, sez Tim the Sarge, Time to get MOVIN' !

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Racked, Roped and Ready, Eric snaps this of the Crew.

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Eric and I are hitting the shadowed seam in the middle, and Troy and Eric will be far left.

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Tim takes first lead, with Eric on belay.

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Sandra had first lead, now belays Troy on Pitch 2.

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Troy and Sandra are trying out for Climbing Couple of the Year ! Ah SO CUTE ! Note Troy's Helmet Cam !

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Troy on 2nd lead. Note to Troy's real girlfriend, I was just kidding about the previous caption !!

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The day was so awesome above the clouds, we all had a hard time wiping the smiles off our faces while climbing.

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Sandra took this pic, looking down from the top of the 3rd pitch (?)

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Jeez that guy (Tim) climbs fast ! I better get a pic of him or I'll never see him again !

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Eric, OFF BELAY ! (we're actually going to hit that notch at the top above and right of my head)

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Sandra gets a great shot of Troy, Mr. Happy !

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Eric is on the move, as Tim's partner

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At this spot, I was a SUPER BONEHEAD and dropped my camera. Troy found it later, but dropped it too. :-(

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Sandra takes this picture as Eric and I pull away from them. The next time we meet is at the top, BECAUSE, Eric and I cl

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Sandra takes a signature foot shot

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We topped out at 3. Where are Sandra and Troy ?

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I took a nap, and just woke up. Where are Sandra and Troy ?

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I can hear them down there in the final chute. Hey you guys, get your butts MOVING ! I sound like a sargeant

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Finally, Sandra pops up.

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Eric snapped this right as Troy popped up. Pretty Hilarious.

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I don't know about you, but Troy looks pretty darn happy to have topped out !

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Sandra and Eric, summit.

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Sandra and Tim, summit.

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The climbing team of Sandra and Troy. Victory Circle. Tahquitz Summit, Idyllwild, CA, USA.

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Alright teams, let's get a move on ! Time for tacos and margaritas ! (ps. Why do I look so gay in this picture ?) Just a rhetorical question...

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Friday of Memorial Day weekend, Sandra and I decided to climb hard. Here's her signature nail-biter.

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Down by the sign at Humer, we're racked and ready to do The Long Climb (5.8)

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A refresher in the snow at the base.

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Jeez Tim, do you have enough friggin' gear ?

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Sandra poses, wondering why there's still snow here. Can you say, North Facing ?

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Alright. Let's quite screwing around.

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Ready ? Let's go git'r'done !

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Tim takes first lead, the nice 5.8 vertical hand crack. Sweet lead !

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Sandra snaps this. Sandra will lead the 2nd pitch, the famous "Mummy Crack". The book sez 5.7+ but it was awkward and st

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Sandra after 2 pitches. She took 2 HOURS to lead the "Mummy Crack" pitch, and she is WIPED OUT.

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I lead us out the next 5 pitches that we linked in 3, for a great view with awesome weather. It was nice to get into the

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Sandra enjoying the fact that the climb is over, and that we're in the sun. Woo hoo !

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Ditto for me !

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Alright, time to pack our toys and go have a beer, it's just under 1.5 hours back to the car.

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Re-racked, roped and in more comfortable shoes.

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It REALLY IS beautiful up here.

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Hey Sandra, get your tired butt movin' !

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Yes, we all carry headlamps (right team ?), but thankfully we beat the darkness, but just barely.

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Guess we're not looking so fresh now, are we !?!? All in all, a GREAT day climbing at my favorite crag.

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After getting pitched 2 weeks earlier, Sandra tries again back on lead of Fetal Attraction (5.8)

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Sandra taking a breather (hasn't sent this one yet !)

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A closeup of Sandra working her feet

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Trying ALL SORTS OF THINGS to power thru this blank section. Actually, this route favors gorilla arms (like my 36"-ers)

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Such determination !

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Sandra applies her own UNIQUE style (Something tells me you WON'T find this move in the how-to manuals !)

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Well, not this time Sandra ... My turn ! (Tim chalks up with Jason on belay)

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Ah, the semi-urban landscape ... GRAFITTI !

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Tim continues on the "alternate" start

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Looks like this will be a victory for the boys !

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RRQ#2. (17).jpg 2009-03-27

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Hmmm ... looks pretty blank up there !

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Tim high in the corner

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Jason's turn. Did he ever tell you he has climbed with Chris Sharma ! If he hasn't, he will !

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Jason pulling some nice 5.10b moves ...

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Just a matter of time before the chains ...

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Nice finish !

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Just another day on belay !

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Sandra, back on top rope, pulling the moves that stumped her on lead

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This is Jason, looking strong on either 10b or 10a (I'll have to check the book)

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This was the 5.10a crux, step, reach, and PULL !

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Finishing the crux

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I think I'm pantamiming the crux sequences for some unknown 5.13d route !

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Jason horsing around. Next time we go, we hit that jagged 5.9 crack in the left side of the pick. It's an Offwidth arm-s

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Jason cruising above the crux

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View from the street ... steep and imposing !

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Look closely and you can see other climbers (look for the white dots in the middle of the pic)

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McKenna (foreground) and Camden (background) attack the rock right away

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Tim gets ready. We got to park right at the base of the climb... tailgait climbing ! (Jason's Volvo behind the Excursion)

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Nice grafitti ... NOT !

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Sandra stretches for the main event

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The first route. The book sez 5.9, but, well, more on that later !

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Camden warms up bouldering

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Cam power-crimps down low ...

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Tim goes first ... SUCKER !

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Plenty of trouble for everyone to get into. Bring the whole family !

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Damn. This is hard ! It looked so EASY from down below ...

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OK. One last try.

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I guess we better let the "girl" do it ...

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So far, so good. Sandra has a nice start.

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OH NOOOO ! She just had her VERY FIRST FALL EVER !! Well, Sandra, it had to happen some time ! Congrats on only hurting your ankle and your ego !

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McKenna gives it a go. Girl Power #2 hits the rock.

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Daddy Jason is so proud ! Go McKenna, GO !

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Not bad, but, no luck, no send.

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OK, Tim tries a different approach cuz he HATES to get skunked by the rock.

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Chalk up in the corner

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Cruise out hanging onto what the book calls the "Scary Flake". I'm here to tell you that YES, it is a SCARY FLAKE.

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Gingerly cruising out to the corner

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Here's Tim doing his patented "Head Jam/Head Wedge/Head ACHE !" move. Kids, don't try this at home !

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Peek-a-boo, I see you, you little cracker jack crack !

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Ah, a bomber hand jam, just in time !

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Help, Mommy, I think I'm STUCK !

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Just a few more grunts !

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Ah !

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I can see the light !

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Woo Hoo !

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Hey Jason, I'm getting ready to pop off here, so PLEASE PLEASE catch me daddy !

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Woooo ! Tim takes the elevator down, the FAST way !

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Oh No ! I think Tim is DEAD ! Did Jason drop him on this fall ?

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Oh no, I think I killed him ! He's not breathing !

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So sad, so tragic. Tim was SUCH a COOL DUDE.

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JUST KIDDING ! I was breathing hard cuz my arms were so pumped and flamed for taking way too long on that corner.

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Jason's turn. He climbs with Chris Sharma and is a 5.11a sport climber. SO, he should be able to RUN up this thing !

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Oops, this is pretty hard ! Tim, Take ! Take !

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Hey, let's go find something easier. We need a victory here !

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OK. Next route. Fetal Attraction (5.8), Thin face moves all the way to the chains.

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Sandra, fresh from her first fall, hits the rock on lead, hesitates, and gets skunked, right off the first bolt ! Better luck next time, Twinkle Toes !

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Camden gives it a go...

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Jason powers up "the move", which is a very insecure side-pull crimpy thing that eats the finger tips.

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Up up and away

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Check this weather... perfect ! partly cloudy, probably 75 degrees.

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Jason nears the top.

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Check out Sandra in the middle, on the move.

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Taken in Forest Falls, at the trailhead. Snow everywhere !

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I look happy now, but you should see this whipped puppy at the end of the day !

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On the way up, just boots here.

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Top sign, top of the first steep section, we did it in 25 minutes. Left car at 6:10am

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Tim is on the move

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Hey Troy, you coming ? or just going to stand there and take gay pictures of me ?

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Troy the jokester, picking out his new home after real estate crashes all the way

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First stop at Halfway Camp, it's about 7:55am

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Going up the "old trail", bypassing all the switchbacks, going straight up the ridge line.

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2nd break, in the sun at High Creek Camp at 9:40am

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It's pretty nice here in the sun ! It'd be nice to just take a nap. We've been up for 6 hours already

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Nice self-portrait with a cheek full of sun flower seeds.

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Ansel Adams Troy doing a study in tree shadows

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And here's the model ... a nice old man

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We're heading up out of high camp, heading up to the upper amphitheatre above the ridge

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Troy sez "Hey, this tree is WARM ! Cool !"

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Snowshoes on, in the upper amphitheatre, the wind is starting to blow

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We're now above just about everything is So. Cal, with about 800' vertical feet to go

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Spectacular views for days ! That's Mt. Baldy and the San Gabriels in the distant background

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I've got my snowshoes in "climb" mode, with the vertical heal riser engaged.

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We're done with the hard part, now to angle up and then to the right of Troy's shoulder in the background

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Hey Troy, poke your head out of that hood !

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It's HOWLING up here, about 40 mph winds sustained.

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Thar she blows ! The final summit blocks about 1/4 mile away

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Bingo. Victory. Shazzam ! on the summit with Mt. San Jacinto (elev. 10,804) in the background

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Troy almost blew over in this pic !

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Time for me to put my jacket on .. Brrrrrr !

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By the way, that little gay pink thing around my head keeps my ears warm !

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We signed the summit registry

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The Chinese in front of us did the little "Hello Kitty" icon.

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Troy is getting blown over to the left

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Adios summit. We left at 1:30, sumitted at 1:00 sharp

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Down the steep part in the upper amphitheatre

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This was our FAVORITE section of the whole trip, cuz we practically skied down. Snow was PERFECT

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Below High Camp, great panorama

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Ansel Troy's exercise in textures and shadows ...

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A postcard perfect ending to a 17-mile death march, looking up Mill Creek

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Oh my God ! Marlo driving, Mason riding quads for the first time ever !

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And here's the REAL speed demon ! Lindsey

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Mason on the big quad on the "Hill"

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Hey dad, riding quads is so fun !

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Miles of sand, a full tank of gas ... LET'S GO !

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Ah, the quadding life ... so good !

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My beautiful picture

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My beautiful picture

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My beautiful picture

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My beautiful picture

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All my kids on quads, and dad's picture shadow, all on the "Hill"

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Self-portrait on high, with the inner bay of Puerto Penasco in the background

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This hill is the main hill, the ONLY hill in the area, and therefore is very popular

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I walked up to the top of the hill & took a pic on the other side, about 200' down to the water

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Nice house on the bay

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This is my version of a Dos XX commercial

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Out quadding, we found this guy, Mr. Stinky Fishbreath III

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He can't be bothered with us during his tanning sessions

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Hey dudes ! You're blocking my sun ! sez Mr. Stinky

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Kaily doing some mound surfing

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And Marlo, getting more style points from the mound surfing judges ... (me !)

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Uncle Curtis (my brother) and Lindsey

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Can't leave PP shopping district without some crazy metal suns !

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and other goo-gaws

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Today is my birthday ... Damn, 48 snuck up on my pretty fast !

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But I get to hang with my gang, and my rockstar nephew Dillon !

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Dillon kicks butt on a juice box !

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Here we are starting, Grand Junction Airport, renting a Ford Eclipse

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First view of the San Juan range in the Colorado Rockies ... WOOHOO !

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The big Hump on the left is Uncompahgre, over 14,000 ft.

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View of the "Amphitheatre" and Scott taking a pic of his f-ing monkey

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Home Sweet Home for the next 4 days

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Yes, it is a Monkey ... and Yes, the stuffed animal is a monkey TOO !

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Prelude to Hot Monkey Sex with a Frog !

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Scotty is a fireman, so we hooked up a the local Fire Chief and got a tour of the station

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Scott just asked if he could see the big fire hose !

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Scott on rappel, into the abyss. Our first routes were pretty vertical !

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Jason attacks first. DAMN, why did we pick the hardest routes first ? It's been a YEAR since we've ice climbed !

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Pretty awesome

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And the view the other direction. We are below the Little Bridge

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Jason is finishing up (going pretty slow if you ask me)

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Hey Tim, let's see if you remember how to do this stuff !

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Pick pick, step step. Easy. Oh, hey, NICE Ice Climbing Boots !

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Up I go

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This puzzle needs figuring out

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This is Libby. She tossed her rope over, comes flying down. Pamon sez, "I suppose you think you're going to outclimb da boyz, here!"

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And her climbing partner (in red helmet) sez, "Oh, you can COUNT on THAT !"

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Well, seeing is believing. Oh, by the way, her competition ice boots cost more than everything I was wearing !

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AND, did I mention that this is a MIXED climb ? (grade M6) In other words, PRETTY HARD !

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She's sticking these moves pretty well in fine form ...

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Oh, and also, this is WAY above my grade !

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Nearing the top, and the little ice patch

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I guess I better get a shot of Jason while Libby is climbing

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There's Pamon, Scott and Jason. I went up top to catch Libby's finish

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Here's some tough mantle moves

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Double Claws ! Meeeoooowwww !

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Nice crossed arms

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Still looking strong at the finish

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Few more moves (she's tired)

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3 more steps

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Lunch Time

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After lunch, just Jason and I on 2nd shift. Scott was WAY HUNG OVER and Pamon was finding some courage

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Hey dude, SMILE ! You're having fun, right ?

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Jason & I on the way out, by the sign above the Big Bridge.

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Chicks with Picks Auction. I bought a harness for $20 and made tons of new friends

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Home sweet home, Comfort Inn style

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The crew at breakfast. The camera woman was naked, so Jason's face kinda froze !

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This is a shot across the ravine, where we climbed YESTERDAY

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Day 2, started out a little easier for Pamon and Hangover Boy to get some courage

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Are knees more grippy on ice than those crampons you're wearing ?

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Great shot of the route from the bottom, kinda of a mixed start.

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Lots of cool energy here

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Don't you just LOVE ice climbing ?

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This guy hanging down broke off the bottom of a free standing icicle he was climbing, and got stuck hanging. He couldn't get his feet up !

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See him with the Thigh Grip ? not much grip there, pal !

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Help ! Mr. Wizzard ! Eventually, he muscled up with his arms, then just barely caught a foot and made it out

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White sleeves day, Tim attackes a nice long climb

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sequence

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Hmm. Where to go. How about UP !

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Zoom in

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Zoom out

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Nice form !

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And SUCCESS !

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Jason goes up the other side

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Smile for the camera !

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Yes, me and the MONKEY are sharing a quiet moment in an ice cave !

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My turn to climb the other side

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This was FUN !

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Just stay focused. Little drops of water were coming off the top

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Lots of features here to exploit

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THis pic shows the scale a little better

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There's Tim, the little tan DOT

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And success ... OF COURSE !

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Gots to have the smiley group shot !

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Yes, after a couple of Vodka Tonics at the room, time for the Hot Springs Spa !

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Pool is 96 deg, and the section in the distance is 105 deg.

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Now THERE'S a happy relaxed dude. See ?

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Went to Hutch's place for some micro beer that he makes. This is our waitress !

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Here's the bar. We just ordered pizza. Who'd have thought, pizza and beer ...

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Day 3, Pamon surveying the danglies

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Yep. It's dead vertical

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This area provided us with 3 climbs, all awesome. Jason goes first

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He said his arms were tired. Awww.

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But manages a smile and a wave for the crowd anyways.

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This section was awesome. Like a chandelier, everying was coming off every kick, and every hit with the ice tools

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Nice form !

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This section is new this year, just below the water pipe bridge

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Shake off those cobwebs

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Topping out

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Who's Your Daddy ?

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Jason on the move

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Ooooo. I 'm scared ! Help me Daddy !

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This section on the left was AWESOME

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If I fall, I'll pendulum to the left !

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This is one of my favorites now

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Nearing the top

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Jason is lowering me. Did I ever mention that you have to pick the right climbing partners ? Jason, make sure you don't lower me into those icicles !

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Oh, the pain, the horror !

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Count Ice-cula, killed with an icicle thru the heart ! (he was a cold-hearted bastard, anyways)

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Resurected, ready to climb again

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I'm going to go over to the free-standing waterfall on my right ! (ya, right) YES !

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Over to the right

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Yes, I made it

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Whew, that was hard ! I need a rest !

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Nice shot with the water pipe bridge

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Yes, it really IS that vertical, boys and girls

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Final crawl out of there

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But first I have to squeeze thru this ice chimney

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Look at all the ice flying off my feet from kicking in.

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Ahhhh-Soooo. TOTO-CON-CEN-TWA-TION !

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Kicking and Picking !

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and, the final butt shot on top-out

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Second shift, after lunch. Pamon opted out, and once again, Just me an the Doc

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Down at the bottom. Here, we walked way up the canyon for some new stuff

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Big walls of ice.... YEA !

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No climbing photos, just a couple more routes, then these top shots

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Guess who ?

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What would my pics be if there weren't any self-portraits ?

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Final 5pm shot of the Amphitheatre. Next year, I'm going to take and extra day and do this traverse solo.

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You can't see it but I'm drinking a monster huge Vodka Tonic. We had to kill the bottle cuz it was the last night

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Hooked up with Mark Allen (our IMG Mr. Rainier Guide) He invited us to dinner. He's Jason drinking the blue girly-man drink

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This photo does not even BEGIN to indicate how drunk we are ! (pssst, I got cut off from the bar that night !) That's Brad, Mark's client in the lower right

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Flying home, I got this shot of Red Rocks outside of Vegas.

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Up Bedford Canyon, from Eagle Glen Golf Cours

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You can have an alpine experience in your backyard !

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This is pretty enough to be a puzzle !

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This is the ridge above Bedford Canyon, the comes into Eagle Glen

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Wilson Elementary School in the heart of Eagle Glen.

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Bedford Canyon, taken across from the Stater Brothers.

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A look up to the hills ... this gives me the SHAKES ! I GOTTA GO UP THERE !

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These hills are from the OTHER side of the 15, above Lake Mathews. This is Estelle Mountain, Elev. ~2800 ft.

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On the drive to work, looking up toward Pleasant Peaks, elev. ~3950 ft.

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So, on Saturday (DEC-20) I had to go up and "get some" ! This is sunrise, about 7:15.

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This is a view toward my destination, Santiago Peak (not visible) with Modjeska Peak elev. 5496 visible on skyline, center left.

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Looking back, sunrise on the San Gabriel range.

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People came up here to snowboat down the hills and play in the snow.

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Here's my version ... hit the trail !

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This is the where the Bedford Motorway hist the Main Divide Trail, elev. 3600' about 7.5 miles from where I started.

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Last vehicle tracks about 1/2 mile on the Main Divide.

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First tracks, and only tracks, the way I like it.

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Just got to keep pounding the trail !

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Whew, it's a lot of work in 1 1/2 to 2 feet of snow !

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There's my target, but I should have turned back by now. It's still about 7 miles from here ! (and I didn't know that)

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This the confluence of the Maple Springs Rd, the Harding Truck Trail and the Main Divide Trail meet, elev. 4550 ft. Oh, and I'm totally beat ! 6 miles to go !

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I didn't take this pic, but this is kinda the view from where I was. There was WAY MORE SNOW on the summit (I kinda wish I had taken the pic, now)

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Made it to the summit, right at sunset. Sorry, no pic. But got into the AT&T tower building, and dried my sox in the oven !

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Preparing to bivy for the night, I put the bed by the oven in the kitchen.

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Home sweet home for the night. Plan is to head down into Trilogy area in the morning and have my dad drive me back to my car.

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BUT ... My wife got on the phone and convinced these guys (OC Sheriff Dept) that I was in trouble and needed saving. So when they showed up, I had to leave.

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This is going to be my 2nd helicopter ride ever !

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Back in Orange County, down where's there's no snow

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I'm waiting for my ride in the Sheriff's cafeteria.

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Here's my gear !

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This is our view of First Creek Canyon, ride from the car

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The gang is all excited, and clowns around, anxious to climb

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da Crew

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da WHOLE crew. Picture was taken my Nikki, Kelly's new bride

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The hike in, about 2 miles or so

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This place is insanely gorgeous

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Eric poses with the Wild Burros in the background. There all just a bunch of asses, if you ask me !

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Lounging around, doin' the wild burro thing

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Off the wide trail, now we're following the climber's use trail

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Our target is dead ahead. We're here for Lotta Balls

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Sandra and Eddie stop for a click or 2

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These are our routes, with 2 teams already on the wall

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Racked and ready, Eddie and I get our ropes together

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Sandra took this pic of Troy, coming up to belay her on her P1 5.8 lead

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The start of Black Magic (5.8) was made for Jason's power

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Tim pauses just after exiting the chimney on P1 of Lotta Balls (5.8)

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Jason works the lower sequence of Black Magic

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Sandra prepares to start her P1 lead of Tryhardral (5.8)

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I took this shot of the team of Sandra and Troy, with Sandra stitching it up like Betsy Ross !

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Sandra hugs the wall

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Closeup of the wall hugger, making her moves count

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Sandra cruising in the vertical world

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I didn't tell her that this was her first 5.8 lead (I thought I'd save that for after she was done !)

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Hey Sandra, look over here !

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Me at the P1 belay of Lotta Balls. I have no idea what kind of face this is !

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nor this face ! Troy unlocks the sequences as he cleans gear

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Eddie negotiating the crack and working his body movement up to the arete

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Now THIS is pure beauty ! Bomber, baby, bomber !

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Kelly next door on Black Magic, following Jason

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"How the hell did Jason get up this thing?" inquires Kelly

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Eddie is in the crux of P2, dancing on the balls

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Sandra awaits for Troy's arrival to the P1 belay

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Troy works the face with good footwork

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Sandra and Troy smile it up at the P1 belay

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Troy on lead of P2 of Tryhardral

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Great shot by Sandra from the P1 belay

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Next door on Lotta Balls, Eric and Ed watch as time navigates the little balls

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Troy is grunting his way up the dihedral (corner)

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Jason and Kelly are at the top of P1 of Black Magic

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Eric finally gets his turn

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Firing the top of the chimney, hitting the awkward section

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A cool shot to the ground. It's straight down

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The business end of this pitch is now over

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Finally happy to be hanging on the belay. "Let's get movin'!" sez Sargeant Tim

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Eric leaned over and shot this Climbing magazine cover shot (execpt it's a bit blurry)

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I'm up past the steep smooth face with the little balls

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Now THIS is a proper bendover.

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Jason nears the top of P2 of Black Magic

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Picking his pro carefully

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How about a wave to your fans ? Silly boy.

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Jason clipped to the P2 anchor

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Yes, we know you're still alive.

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Troy dropped his camera in the crack to the left, and fished it out with a sling and a nut tool. Can you say "Ansel is Happy"?

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Climbs across the way

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This is one of the best pics of the whole trip, and no doubt will be Troys computer wallpaper shot !

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Sandra cruising P2 of Tryhardral

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Ed is in the crux P2 section, with Eric at the belay below

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Listen, you can almost hear him grunting !

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Kelly cruising up P2 of Black Magic

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Hey ! Smile !

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Ed approaches P2 belay

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Eric in tow

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Ed thinking about the universe, with Kelly and Jason above and behind

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Eric finishes P2, huffing and puffing, loving the calf burn !

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Sandra is loving the vertical world

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Jason and Kelly decided to bail, so Kelly leads the rappel

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His slings look sloppy !! Yes, I said that !

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The gang is all here !

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Ansel Adams Troy is ready to capture the moments !

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Hey, who's your buddy ?

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Team Excursion poses for a pre-climb picture

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Team Mustang with a Team Excursion member ... Everyone looks fresh !

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OK you lazies, let's get it going ! Round up your gear !

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Our destination is the Nuclear Reactor Rock

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It's a short 1/2 hike in from the cars

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Here at last, still in the shade (but not for long). Ed & Eric survey the challege.\

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Mason and Karina, the Boulder Hoppers + Eric

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Wow, look at all the pretty gear !

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Here, Sandra, can I get that for you ? I'm so strong and you're so delicate !

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My Top-Rope helpers, all ready to go.

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Wow, that is some colorful gear ! Can I touch it ?

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"Are you sure you don't want me to carry your pack Sandra ?" sez Eddie. "No, Tim will get mad. He makes me carry everything !" sez Sandra

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Mason the Boulder Hopper and Big Daddy head up

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The view is totall insane. Check out the boulder field for miles and miles

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Ok Tim, you get the gear ready. Sandra, you fix your hair. Do you need a mirror ?

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Class is in session ! (Top-Rope class)

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Yes it is true ... I look EXACTLY like John Wayne !

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Eddie studies carefully, making sure I don't screw it up !

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Can anyone say, Insane View for Miles ?

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One crack, MANY cams ! (and so colorful, too !)

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Cowboy Tim demonstrates how to construct a 3-piece equalized power point anchor with backup

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Detail view of the gear

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Sandra, Eddie and Troy look on in earnst. Kinda.

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Eric snapped this with his telefoto from below.

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We're all glad Karina looks like her mother (and not Eric !)

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Sandra warms up by clowning around

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Sandra the Shutterbug enjoys the view

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We setup 3 top-ropes so we could all climb different routes all day

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Eddie's the guinea pig we'll use to test the rigging !

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Into the void ! Hey Ed, don't forget that rappelling is FUN !

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Troy get ready to rap down from station number 2

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Hey Sandra, can we have 2 tickets to the "Gun Show" ?

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Sandra raps down from station number 3

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Into the void !

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Eddie goes first, all anxious to get-it-on, with Sandra on belay

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Eddie swims the crack like a true crack whore ...

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Eric hits the white dike with Eddie in the background

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Ed powers up to the end of the crack

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Eric enters the slippery dike zone, Ed is just about in trouble !

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This pic was taken after Ed's flamboyant fall, all of about 1 foot in length, but the whole valley could hear him !

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Eric approaches steeper terrain

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Daddy Long Legs in the House !

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Keep going up, guys !

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Sandra jumps on, making it looks easy

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Great footwork and a cool head propel her up (unlike Ed !)

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Right about here, it starts to get scary

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Notice the care of the footwork. It's all about the feet

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Who's bad NOW, boys ?

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Second showing of Sandra's Gun Show !

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Dad double-checks his precious baby girl !

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This is Karina's last non-climber photo ever !

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Sandra counsels Mason that yes, he too, can climb if a GIRL can, he can !

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Blast off (with a SLIGHT assist from Dad)

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Karina hangs on, with encouragement from Eric, gain more confidence with each step

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Near the top, victory seems imminent !

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YES !!!! Check out that smile, people !

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Mason was watching Karina the whole time

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Daddy Tim checks Mason's rigging before he steps on

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We double-back the buckle so there's no slip ups

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I can FEEL the anxiety, fear and EXCITEMENT @

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And up he goes ! His feet are the same size as Eric's !

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Mmmmm, this is harder than it looks !

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Guess I better chalk up !

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Mason is a fast learner, using nice high steps and good feet smearing

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After making it to the top, leaning back is the scariest thing to do

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Mason had an audience ...

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Wow, dad, that was fun ! Is THIS what you guys do when you go climbing ?

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Now THERE'S a couple of handsome studs !

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Time for Tim to shut up and start climbing !

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Now HERE'S the REAL Gun Show ! (well, maybe not like Eddie's !)

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This crew looks hungry ! Time for lunch

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Yes, a picnic in the shade. Cheese, crackers, turkey sandwiches and beer

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The perfect spot

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Troy captures Sandra in a supermodel pose

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Feast is almost over

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Mason strikes and anime video game pose

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Ansel Adams Troy becomes the subject of a pic for a change

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The "girls" showing some Girl Power

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I think Mason has a crush on Karina. Watch out Eric !

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Notice the sandwich in the right hand

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Lunch is done, time to climb. Come on Ed, sez Sandra, let's GO !

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Up she goes, working the crack

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Stepping up, working the feet

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Great shot of 1/2 of Team B/E Aerospace

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I think this shot is self-explanatory !

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Sandra's in the pocket, and Ed's on the Elevator

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Sandra's showing some composure, up where it is very thin

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Getting ready to "pull the roof"

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Roof sequence 2

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Roof sequence 3

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End of the roof

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Eric is literally RUNNING up this crack

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Yes, he's still running ! 30 feet in 15 seconds

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And then he'll run out of crack. Eric is proud to be a crack whore !

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Troy runs up to get a wall shot of Eric

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We call this "Troy's Variation", a route between routes

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Troy the Speed Cliimber

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Pulling the sequence

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Pulling up, almost there

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Who's the bomb, boys ? ME, you DA's !!!!

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Troy captures a wall shot of Eric

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My turn on the 5.9 face

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Troy got this shot from above, approaching the roof

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There's the magic undercling

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Hey Sandra, did you see my awesome footwork ? "Ya, right", sez Sandra

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Eddie hitting the 5.9 smooth face

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He's starting to look like a rock climber !

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See ? I told you !

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Working the roof undercling

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Time to get these damn shoes off, it's quitting time

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Some of the climbing crew

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Got a little snow on the Beast overnight !

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Snowed 2-3", enough to cover the slopes of Bear Mountain

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Midway Hut, just below the Geronimo Chairlift, showing good coverage

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Man and Nature ... my boot print and a rabbit, who was up earlier than me !

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Love this silouette of sunrise, just behind the gnarled tree

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Upslope view of Big Bear Lake

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Looking up towards the top of Bear Peak elev. 8805', highest peak serviced by chairlifts in SoCal.

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On top of Bear Peak, looking south the top of San Gorgonio, elev. 11,504'

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There's my target, Sugarloaf, about 4 1/2 miles away

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Closing in on the Loaf, it looks more rounded.

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Couldn't resist this shot of San G in the clear morning sun

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Summit marker. It really is a quite UN-spectacular summit.

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Not a cloud in the sky. BTW, it's about 28 degrees.

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Old summit sign, looking a little beaten up.

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Poor Tim ... nobody around to take my picture except ME !

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My summit post, from the can below the old summit sign.

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Back below Bear Peak, at the edge of the ski boundary, Sugarloaf is framed quite nicely

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Back at my cabin, we have some avian visitors enjoying some peanuts placed on the rail. What a view !

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Sandra has her new Camelbak, and can't wait to start

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Loaded up with gear, ready to lead first pitch

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I'm on the 2nd pitch, with Jason and Melissa on The Error (5.6) right next to us

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Sandra coming up P2 after a fun slippery lichen covered face, weaving around the bushes

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This is about all the sun we're going to get today, just little pieces

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Melissa just grunted up P4 of The Error, quite a strenuous pitch

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Jason's trying to figure out P5, up the straight vertical left-leaning body-swallowing crack

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He's approaching the "awkward" section that took him 15 minutes to get out of

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Listen carefully... you can almost hear the grunts, the groans and the CUSSING ! Don't tell McKenna !

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This section is kind of a Rubik's Cube, a real puzzler

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Sandra's tied to the tree, watching me twinkle-toe across the 30' steep 5.7 face section

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And Jason is ALMOST out, but first, the 3-step roof !

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He's out, hugging the arete, and 3 steps away from the corner

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Time for Sandra to cross this blank face traverse. A fall here would be a 30-foot pendulum whipper !

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She made it, shaking all the way. She HATES steep traverses, but now she's motoring up the security of the crack

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A GREAT day climbing, as this Team photo suggests. It was Melissa's VERY FIRST multi-pitch trad route, & she's stoked !

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The Northwest Buttress (5.7) route is on the shadow line

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Hilited here.

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5:45am at Denny's. Drinking coffee and READY !

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Ed looks a little, uh, how you say, SCARED !

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First glimpse of the little piece of granite

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Pajama Boy and Cycle Dude check out the line

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Gear Check... If you don't bring it, you don't have it !

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Aw, isn't that cute ? Tim's helping Eddie

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Now THERE is a handsome man ! (you get to pick which one)

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"Sandra, I don't want to die today !"

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"You won't die, Ed, Tim will keep us safe !"

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Just beginning to hit the trail, about 600 vertical feet

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The "fighters" tape up before the granite crack attack

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Final double check (everyone checks each other's rigging)

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Sandra has first lead... Ed is in "awe"

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There she goes, motoring up the crack

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The route, The Error, goes straight up the middle of the screen, around the bulgy roof to the right

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Our route is hilited in red above Sandra

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Sandra is a "cracK" whore ... the good kind !

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Up she goes ... Ed can't believe it ...

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Now THAT is the TRUE face of FEAR ... "Tim, is it too late to quit ?"

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"I'm still alive !!! I'm still alive !"

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Ed's on the move, and no longer in fear's grip

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Nothing like a self-portrait. I am SO entertained taking newbies !

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Eddie's up high, approaching first belay ledge where Sandra is

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Nice footwork Ed !

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I motored up, and interviewed Ed. Ed sez, "That was easy !" Ya, cuz it was 5.2

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Sandra set up the belay anchor for Ed and I to come up

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Hey, act like you're having FUN !

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Snapped this shot of the P1 belay going up the 2-crack ramp to the crux

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I just crested the 5.6 crux on pitch 2, got out of the corner onto the arete

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Sandra huffing and puffing up P2 where the crux was

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Part 2 of the sequence

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Part 3 of the sequence. Sandra's lead now on Pitch 3

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Signature feet + rigging

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Sandra's game face

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Sandra lead P3 with Eddie moving up the awkward corner

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Sandra's at the base of the vertical crack of P4 that I'll lead

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Ed managing the awkward dihedral

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Almost there

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Hey, hurry up, it's cold down here ! You guys having a tea party ?

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Zoom in, Tea Party in progress

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I lead P4, which was a grunter. Ed looks wiped !

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I'm still ALIVE ! I'm still ALIVE ! Woo Hoo !

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"I seriously can not believe I just did that !"

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Time for lunch.. Baby Bells and Triscuits ... MMMMmmm !

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It's the Used Car Salesman smirk. I think I look gay there !

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P5 is a straight verical right-hand dihedral crack, offwidth with a 3-step roof at the top

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Time to move, getting late ...

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"I have to climb THAT ?"

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I need some pointers

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Tim approaches the crack on the far right

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It's a funny angle cuz it's pretty vertical

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Tim sets some gear before he gets into the crack-corner thing

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This is the awkward section

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Hey Sandra, cool picture ! Almost out

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Approaching the 3-step roof system

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Final moves. There's an old piton that I clipped just below this crux

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Final Pitch 6, on the way out of this deep chimney

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Getting dark, but JUST ENOUGH time for a group summit shot... WOO HOO !

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Troy's first glimpse of the ominous Tahquitz

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New sign warning of the dangers of the May Fire

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Time to lay out the gear and figure out what goes and what stays ... cuz it's HEAVY

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Geez, climbing gear is so COLORFUL ! I want to make my shoes match the 'biners !

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Ready to hit the trail (sure, he's all smiley NOW, down where it's safe)

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Hey Troy, when I count to 3, do something gay with your hands. 1, 2, 3 !

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... but wait until I do my TOUGH CLIMBER look (zoolander)

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Enough posing, we got work to do

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Ansel Adams Troy on the camera

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I sound like a junk yard rattling around when I walk with all the gear

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Thar she blo's, captain !

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Look, there's our route

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These guys were sure friendly

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Did I mention it's a pretty good hike to the base ?

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Boulder hopping to the base

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Getting ready to traverse over

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There's the little trail

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I think I just might start calling him Ansel Adams Troy !

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Hey, which way do we go ? Up, dude, up. Always up. We're climbers, remember ?

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Just getting a peek at the Northwest Recess section

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Winding our way thru

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More Ansel pics

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See ?

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Last little way. I can almost see our route

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See Troy, up there is Hard Lark, that's what Sandra and I did.

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And there, that tree up there, that's the cafeteria

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Geez, climbing gear is so colorful !

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More of Hard Lark, and West Lark

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IMG_3391.jpg 2008-08-24

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But we're going up to Sahara Terror (5.7), a 3 star route

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Yep, we're here. Let's shoe up

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It feels SO GOOD to take these shoes off at the end of the day

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Just about ready. Hey Troy, let's GO Dude !

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Can't forget the Brain Bucket

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Like a prize figher ready for battle ... game face ... ON !

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Geez, I almost forgot the rope ! (nah, not really)

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Troy is also the master of the Self-Portrait

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On the move, Pitch 1 is a nice warm-up

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Troy sez, "Tim, where are you ? Don't leave me !"

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Just started Pitch 2, with Troy looking up. There's my signature "foot"

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IMG_3422.jpg 2008-08-24

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Middle of Pitch 3, Troy tackles the famous "Dog Leg Crack", and looks like a monkey humpin' a football !

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I got 4 minutes of video of this, and you can hear me laughing the whole time !

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Troy takes his first lead ... Pitch 4.

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I think this pic will be his new desktop wallpaper

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Top of Pitch 5, which was the sweetest pitch ... 3 sections of 5.7 ... total MONEY, BABY !

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Scenery from top of P5 ledge

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We stopped to have a snack, 600 feet off the deck

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I think Troy is trying to steal my "foot signature"

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Awesome weather. 75 deg. No wind, partly cloudy. PERFECT

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You can see the parking lot below us

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Ansel Adams Troy !

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We could watch the clouds building in front of us, and hear thunder behind us

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Troy's sloping belay after is P6 lead on "Troy's Variation", way off route, FULL of lichens & moss = SLIPPERY. He says he thought he was gonna DIE on this lead !

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Final "staircase" to the top (with cool green and red lichens)

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Top of the hill. Hey Tim, nice belly !

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The weather was slightly different to the south

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Here's a couple of old men ... weathered and spent

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Pine cone

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Awesome tree root growing right on boulders

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Closeup of the root.

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Wild blueberries

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No trip is complete without tacos and beer at La Casita !!

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Final treat on the way down ... loan rain cell sporting a rainbow !

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This was awesome in person

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ok, one more shot

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View of the Mt. Whitney (14,497') from the Visitor Center. We stopped by for permits and poopy bags !

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It's about 99 deg. with a light breeze. Dave is roasting, and I'm just warming up

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Don't let this place fool you ... the food is no good. The best place to eat is the Mexican restaurant INSIDE the Chevro

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Trailhead at 7500'. We spent the night "bivvying" in the back of my Excursion.

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View up the trail, with the horse stables on the lower right.

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Middle Palisade (over 14,000) shows on the skyline left of center.

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Self-portrait. Yechhh !

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Around the corner, we head north, in the shade. Weather is PERRR-FECT

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I turned around and took this pic from whence we came

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1st break, above the big waterfall. DAMN, these packs are HEAVY ! (about 75+ lbs. each)

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Forest Service lodge/cabin.

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1st sight of the mighty Temple Crag. It will dominate us over the next 4 days

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Getting closer... I can't wait to get this pack OFF

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PICT0248.jpg 2008-03-01

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This is Second Lake. When I first saw it thru the trees, I thought it was the roof of a lodge ! It is soooo Blue/Green

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We get our first look at the "Temple". Pretty impressive. How the heck are we going to climb THAT ?

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Route lines of the big 3: Venusian Blind, Sun Ribbon Arete and the Moon Goddess Arete. The prominent prow in the front i

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Thru the Boulder Field from Hell, we are in the shadow of Dark Star, the crown jewel of the High Sierras, 22 pitches, 20

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It looks much better with me out of the way !

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Here's a pic of the famous Boulder Field, with Dave muscling his way up

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This is looking up at our routes

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Found the Playboy Bunny in this snowfield

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Took this in camp, sitting on my tired butt, looking up at our route for tomorrow, Moon Goddess Arete (5.8)

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These next 2 pics go together, looking up at this behemoth of granite.

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Fri. morning, Dave & I, up at 4:30, approach @ 5:30. It's about 6:00 here at rope-up. Left arrow is Dave & my camp, righ

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Dave'll lead first. He's setting the belay anchor here.

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Dave's up & moving (see arrow)

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A couple of pieces are in, and he's moving. This is a LONG route

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Willie's across the way, cruising up Venusian Blind, simul-climbing with Clay. Willie's got the camera out, enjoying the

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Dave's at the 1st lead belay. He LOVES it when I pull out my camera & snap away !

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Dave's down there somewhere. I couldn't resist my "signature" foot shot !

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There's Willie !

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This looks like a GREAT route along the arete !

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Dave leading the 5.7 "Wild Traverse" (just a teensy bit shaky!) After he was done, he looked down & said "Holy cow ! It'

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This is the First Tower. The arrow points to the traverse ... Yipes !

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There's Willie, cruisin' the Venusian ... Clays there somwhere

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... and there's Clay Trager.

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Looking down at First Tower. You can kind of sense the thousand foot dropoff ...

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Clay and Willie on the move ... UP !

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You can spot them on the arete

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Self-portrait above the First Tower

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Took this above my shoulder, looking a thousand ft. down...

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Close to the top, after 15 pitches !

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Looking southwest. In the middle is Midde Palisade

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The TOP ! Looking southwest

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Dave's down there somewhere... We stretched 6 pitches into 3 cuz we were running out of light !

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The lower dark rock section is the top of Venusian Blind down below the top of Moon Goddess

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This is the view towards the north from the summit

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Down the decent gulley below Contact Pass. This is the 2nd boulder field from hell

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Not much rest, Willie and I hit the Sun Ribbon the next morning

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Willie scouts the best line around the snow field below Sun Ribbon

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Just a quick pic up the Sun Ribbon

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Willie finesses his way up the awesome first pitch, a combo corner crack chimney thing. NICE !

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Willie "spidermans" up the crack. BTW, thanks for burying a green Camalot ! We had a nice philosophical discussion on ca

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Took this from the first pitch of Sun Ribbon

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Tried to capture the first pitch, looking down mid pitch. The red dot is straight down from where I belayed Willie.

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The famous Willie Hunt, racked and ready to roll... we simul-climbed the next 300 ft.

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Guess who ? Me, loving climbing with Willie (even after our cam-placement chat), on my rest day

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Willie leading the simul after pitch 1

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Willie hitting the little head-wall pitch on the tower

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Mid-pitch up the little tower that Willie led in the prev. pic.\

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The route we finally settled on (in red) was NOT OBVIOUS to find ! (it was the correct route, after all...)

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Looking over at the Ibrium Tower, on Moon Goddess that Dave & I did Friday. Route finding cost us about 1.5 - 2 hours (a

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Willie weaving a nice vertical line...

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I seem to be obsessed w/ the route I did yesterday. The arrow points to the middle of 12. We followed the arete along th

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Dave German on lead (at top) with Judy following on the Venusian, 2 aretes away

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OMG !! Willie "manning up" to the Tyrolean Traverse (that certainly got ME puckering 3 minutes after this pic) This was

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This is the tower were Willie & I lassoed the horn to make the Tyrolean (it took us 6 tries)

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This is Tim A., Chad's partner. We met them when Dave & I climbed the Venusion on the last day.

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Chad, met him on Venusian. They let us use their dwouble 70m ropes for the 2 rope rap into the gulley at the end of the

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Sunday, hiking out. Why does this pack seem HEAVIER ?

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Me toppin' out ... Yea !

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PICT0272a.jpg 2008-07-25

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Me toppin' out on Moon Goddess Arete (5.8)

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Dave & I fixed a line thru the snowfield so it would be easy in the morning. The red line shows the route up the ramp to

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Found this winter pic off the internet

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Tim leading African Flake to set top rope, while trailing other rope.

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Look at Spiderman go ! (except Sandra saw me step on the bolt hanger...)

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WOW, sez Ed. That looks HARD !

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Sandra on belay, except she feeds out the rope TOO SLOW !

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Alright, much MUCH better !

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Hey Eddie, on the count of 3, BLINK ! Hey Bricia, try to act like you like Eddie !

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"The Sarge" is all done playing with his rope up top, time to come down.

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Rappelling is REALLY fun ... you get to control your own speed of descent.

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Back on terra firma, Eddie intently checks Tim's rigging to make sure it's all copacetic...

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Jeez, who is that stud in the black tank top ?

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Alright, Eddie is a bigger stud ... Hey Eddie, try not to make me look TOO much like a pip squeek ! BTW, you're looking

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That's right, see if you can tie the knots that Sandra showed you during the "classroom" portion of the clinic ...

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There's Sandra double-checking ("Power of Two") Eddie's rig ... er, uh, rigging ....

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Eddie's nerves are max'd to the power of 10 as he gets ready to step on for the first time EVER.

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Sandra, posing, belaying Eddie as he struggles to go up the first 8 vertical feet...

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"Hey Tim", sez Eddie, "You made it look WAY easier than this ! What's that again, do WHAT with my feet ? Can't I just be

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WOW, Eddie !! That looks PRETTY DAMN vertical ! You are Super Fly for a White Guy!

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Eddie on the move, reaching the "north shore" of the African Flake...

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FINALLY, getting the hang of going vertical ... "Hey, these shoes really work!"

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Getting more vertical, now ... he's the little dot over the right edge of the tree on the rock face.

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Going vertical is hard work !

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Almost there !! Ed sez, "Damn sweat is filling my sunglasses !"

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(voice of Austin Powers) "Ya, Baby, YA !!, and I BARELY even broke a sweat !"

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There's Sandra laughing at the pictures of Eddie on Steve's camera.

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Steve takes the TOP SEAT !

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"Sweet VICTORY ! and I'm still ALIVE !!!! WOOOO HOOOOO !", shouts Eddie.

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DSC02664.JPG 2004-08-17

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The crapper at the upper parking lot in Forest Falls

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Fresh snow, fresh tracks into parking lot. The morning crew gets ready ...

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"Brrrr" sez Bob. "I have to put on this same flannel that I hike in ALL the time"

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Greg, Natalya and Tim, posing before we start.

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Hol-ee-Cow ! THis is late MAY and there's fresh snow covering Mill Creek.

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First self-portrait of the day, at the sign across Mill Creek at the trailhread

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Is this WINTER or is the MAY ?

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Top of the 1st section. Notice the teensy patch of blue sky at the top

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Great meadow shot of Tim. Great shot of finger over lense !

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2nd self portrait, taken at breakfast at Halfway Camp

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Fresh fuel, breakfast is over: Greg, Tim and Bob.

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This pick is on the way to High Camp in the long switchbacks

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Here comes Bob, pounding up the slope

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Self portrait, showing the conditions

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A winter scape of Bob and Greg, having an outside Merrill Lynch meeting

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The first section in the upper theatre. Notice the fresh footprints

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I passed everyone, now I get to make the fresh tracks to the summit !

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My solo footprints behind me... I walk alone ....

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The sign to the summit. Notice the blowing plume in upper left portion of pic

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Bob and Greg on the summit. We left Natalya at 9000 ft.

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Hey Tim, nice pose. What are you trying to be, a pencil ?

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View from the summit blocks

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Wintry conditions

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Nice view of the ridge just north of the summit

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Upper ridge

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It got clear up top. I'll be walking into the clowd cover

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self portrait, showing the summit area from whence I came ...

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Trail down from the lower theatre area. Notice the cool clouds.

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Love this picture, with the trees and the cloud-eveloped moutains.

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I was just up there, shooting a pic down here. Notice how clear it JUST got

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Closeup

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We are all BEAT DOGS, but we have full bellies of Tacos and Beer so we're happy!

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First sign of snow, in Flagstaff at the McDonalds. Time to hit the road.

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Jason is angry cuz he wants to drive 100 mph but can't because of...

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THIS ! Bummer for the owners ...

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Of course, Scott the fireman LOVED this FIRE ! Why is everyone doing nothing ?

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On the way to the New Mexico border .... very beautiful

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5 miles from New Mexico

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Durango airport, where our flight was cancelled INTO. Now I see why...

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Looking for our rental car ... under all the snow ...

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Durango airport is like a ghost town .. 1 person in the terminal other than us

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So we drove to Ouray from Phoenix thru Durango .. and hit the bar in Ouray

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Billy Goats Gruff, they had good Jack and Cokes.

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Stepped out of the room in the morning and saw this view !

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THis place is gorgeous !

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It snowed all night. We will eat breakfast under the balcony on the corner

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Aw, free breakfast. Eric is on the left, and Pamon on the right.

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Here's shy Scott, vocalizing his opinion of Hillary Clinton...

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Jason and Tim, the OLD guys. I'm the oldest at 47 years YOUNG !

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Not the best day for tanning on the deck. Welcome Ouray Ice Climbers !

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Morning sun on the peaks. Our room is 2nd floor, far left under the gable

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US 550, on the way to Ridgeway where we rented our ice climbing gear.

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The Rogue's Gallery, Tim 47, Scott 38, Pamon 36, Eric 24 and Jason 40.

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IMG_1659.jpg 2008-01-24

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Who is that handsome guy in the green on the left ? Hey, wait, that's me !

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Walking over Big Bridge. Dead center, lower half, a little teening man ...

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The monument to Sue and Karen, local girls who died in Alaska.

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At the top of the Schoolyard, rigging a top rope, looking into the ravine.

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Across the ravine. Notice the natural frozen waterfall ice.

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Not wasting any time, Tim & Eric attach the first climb, never did this before !

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Not quite as easy as it looks ...

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Cresting the lip, doing a little hairy mantle move

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Now we're on the move. Not bad for the first climb !

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Looking down the ravine, this place is really hopping !

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There goes the veteran ice climber, Jason the Magnificent

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Nice little stemming move.

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This looks pretty fun !

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IMG_1673.jpg 2008-01-25

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It gets vertical right where he is

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Almost up.

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My turn. Mmm. I'm a little apprehensive starting out.

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On the move. Pick pick, step step. Pretty easy

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Working out some vertical problems

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IMG_1679.jpg 2008-01-25

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When you get moving, you can do pick step pick step for some speed.

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Nice ass !

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Ah, resting on the Tot Spot, the little chair I brought to keep my butt dry

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On the way back

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Couldn't pass up this shot !

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Same spot, 180 degrees, looking the other direction.

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On the Big Bridge, looking at the sun on the ridge at the end of the day

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These are the covetted climbs next to the Big Bridge.

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It's a manly crew, a happy crew, from a day of ice climbing in Ouray ! HOORAY

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The only way to top this day is with a big fat STEAK !

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Or maybe a steaming pile of TOFU ! NOT !

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Hey Tim, act goofy !

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Dawn brings us to new routes, below the Little Bridge.

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This climb had this little squeeze chimney at the top. It was a fun rappel !

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At the top, I'm powering up this sketchy vertical WI4+ chandelier ice. Awesome!

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These Czechs next to us were doing some mixed climbing up this difficult run

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Look for the Czech on the dark vertical rock. This was a tough lead !

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No, I'm not praying. I'm adjusting the ice axe leashes.

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Jason took this, screwing around.

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Hi mom !

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This is a good shot of the texture of the ice on the climbs.

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This was a sketchy part.

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Just keep going up !

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Jason on same route, a little to the right.

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End of day 2, had to go back and get this pic that Scott missed !

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And this one

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On the ravine edge, looking towards the Big Bridge.

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This sign basically sez, Don't F-Up this beautiful place !

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This shows the ice waterfall making equipment, basically showerhead nozzles

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Some random guy rappelling over into the abyss !

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Detail of nozzleheads.

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Nice view of some big icefalls

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Mule deer next to our hotel.

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Rocky Mountain High, courtesy of Ouray, Colorado.

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Another perfect sunset, taken from the Hot Springs parking lot.

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Mule deer, hanging out like sheep in the grass field.

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Urban deer. Not REALLY urban here !

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You can kinda get a feeling for this place, between the peaks.

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Mule deer ASSes ! Up close and personal.

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Ouray Hot Springs Pool, nice eery glow thru the steam

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It's not really a good day to eat outside of the pizza parlor ! it's about 20deg

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Me and Scott setting up the top rope for this climb.

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I rappelled down to the bottom, collecting my wits before I start the marathon

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That's me way at the bottom. Pictures taken from the Big Bridge.

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On your mark, get set GO!

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The little ant is on the MOVE !

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At the 1st ice cave, taking a small rest.

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zoomed out

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Above the ice cave.

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Another zoom out. I told Scott to take LOTS of pics of me !

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Thank you Scott!

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I know, nobody cares as much about these pics as I DO!

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Almost done, arms are burning.

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Power thru it, Tim !

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Pick, step, pick step.

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Pick pick step step. Gitter DONE!

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Victory is near.

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and SWEET !

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Job done. Thanks for the belay, Jason.

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Scotty's turn

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott

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This is what you can do if you get tired... hang out !

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Scott

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Scott

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Scott. He's pretty wiped out.

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Scott. Ooompff !

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Notice Scott's crampon came off !

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Scott, almost there.

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Me sitting in the Tot Spot belaying Scott.

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Just before we left, it was snowing like the dickens ... an inch an hour.

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This is Middleton, where we had lunch. This is all new snow.

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This place has been there forever.

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Back in the Durango airport, waiting for our flight. It's 3:30, and our ...

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flight is scheduled for 6:15, but it's snowing hard.

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about 8:30, we get to go to the plane. Pretty snowy and still snowing.

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All snow and no go... we got seated, then removed cuz the deicing equip failed

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Back to the rental car to DRIVE HOME ! 14 hours

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Wipe off the snow

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Jason wants to leave NOW !

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After 12 hours, almost home to the rain just ahead.