Dolomites – Part 2

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08/21/08. West Face – Vinatzer (V+, 13P) on Third Sella Tower

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Trenker on Third Sella Tower.

…which turned out to be two days later as a brief system rolled through South Tyrol. Finally though, there we were at Sella Pass at the crack of dawn. Well almost. Shirley’s pick for the day was the Third Sella Tower with its nice-looking Vinatzer route. The advertised 20-minute approach followed by 13 pitches of climbing and a tower summit were irresistible. A sizable crowed was already assembled at the base when we arrived though it would prove to not be an issue as most would either be quite fast or would bail after the first pitch or two. The climbing was fun if not terribly sustained. I had this feeling as though I were free soloing given the interesting fixed pegs…a persistent nagging that would take me a few climbs to get rid of. The advertised crux finger crack pitch was probably the highlight of the route. The rock quality deteriorates near the top, at least visually but no holds broke. Soon we were enjoying our tower summit and less so the largely free solo downclimb of the easier “backside” of the tower (exposed and stressful!). We ran into a trio of friendly Italian climbers and joined forces on the rappels while shooting the breeze with Mossimo.

Photos

Bolzano

A quick trip to Bolzano on a rainy day (Aug. 2008).

Bolzano

Bolzano (Aug. 2008).

Bolzano

Bolzano (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley starting our approach to the base of the Third Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley and the Sella Towers. Third Sella Tower (from right) is at the center. Vinatzer route climbs the face in the photo (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Third Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Grohmannspitze (leftmost), Funffingerspitzen, and Langkofel (August 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley leading on of the lower pitches (perhaps pitch 2) of Vinatzer route on Third Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Welcome to the Dolomites. Is what we call an anchor…and we thought the Euro’s bolted the shit out of everything (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley on pitch 4ish of Vinatzer (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

A couple of parties staring up the Messner route on the north face of Second Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Unknown climbers on the Kasnakoff route on the Second Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Arriving at the fourth belay (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Leading pitch 5ish of Vinatzer (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Higher on pitch 5 (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley following pitch 5 (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

The views. (L to R): Grohmannspitze, Funffingerspitzen, and Langkofel (August 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Topping out on pitch 5 (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Peeping on our neighbors on the next door Second Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley topping out on pitch 6 – a large ledge right below the crux pitch of Vinatzer (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Leading the crux pitch 7 of Vinatzer (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Into the crux (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

In the thin of it (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Summit of Second Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley on pitch 7 (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

A climber on the summit of Second Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley topping out on pitch 8 (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

The dolomite up close (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Starting up pitch 9 (I think; Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley topping out on pitch 9 (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Pitch 10 (maybe; Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Looking down on the Second Sella Tower’s summit (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Pitch 10ish perhaps (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Pitch 11ish (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley on pitch 11 or 12 (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley taking us to the summit of the Third Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley violating the summit register (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Summit of Third Sella (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Getting ready for the descent (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Fourth Sella Tower with climbers on it summit (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley starting the somewhat sketchy descent from summit of Third Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Downward bound (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

More descent action (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Rappels and sections of scrambling (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

More descent (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley descending the gully between Second (left) and Third Sella Towers after our climg of Vinatzer on Third Sella (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Hiking down (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley and the Third Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Second (right), Third, and Fourth Sella Towers (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Nearing the car (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Sella Towers from the parking lot (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Shirley admiring her parking job (yes, only 2 tires make full contact with the ground) after our climb of Vinatzer route on Third Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

No shit (Aug. 2008).

Third Sella Tower - Vinatzer

Sella Pass and Sella Towers. The tallest tower structure is the Third Sella Tower. To its immediate right is the Second Sella Tower and to its left (looks well attached to the parent cliff) is the Fourth Sella Tower. Some local pass residents are in the foreground (Aug. 2008).

Castelrotto

Back in Castelrotto (Aug. 2008).

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