Ancient Arts

After a restful night sleep in a washed out river bottom we rose to an overcast sky glooming over Fisher Towers. After muddling through racks of cams and stoppers for 40 minutes and watching doctors poach our early attempt, we made the 20 minute stroll through red sand to stand at her feet .


Here's the climb, Ancient Arts (5.10d). There's a person in the middle to give perspective.
We simul-climbed the first pitch over mud clauds and Dr. Seuss-ian Hoodoos.
Chase cruised up the second pitch with ease stemming across a body width chimney. I was pleasantly surprised to be showered by mud debris.

I led the third pitch which became a little thin (this is the 10d part), nothing that can't be solved by cheating a bit with a little help from a strategically placed quickdraw.

Then the fourth pitch is the grandmaster mother of all exposure. Chase led it with confident ease and I pleaded with the almighty for avoidance of a high mountain rescue from the belay station. This leads to the top out on the corkscrew, gorgeous and scary....so scary.

Water Testing

Just testing the water