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![Alien](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_0072-225x300.jpg)
Shirley on Alien.
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With these doubts in our heads, we woke up on day 1 and following a quick breakfast headed up to the School Wall (Secteur Ecole) to climb one of the easiest lines in the range: the 10-pitch long Alien clocking in at 6b. The first few pitches follow an easy (5c) slab on an apron. The granite is beautiful: high friction, clean, and largely black or dark brown in color. Very unique, at least for us. The route then reaches the upper headwall and difficulties pick up a bit. Low angle slab is replaced by steeper edges a bit reminiscent of some routes in Cochise. The line is well bolted and we were enjoying the day swapping leads. Conditions were windy and things got chilly at belays. The final easy pitch is probably to be avoided (was not set up for rapping…though it is now). We rapped the line and felt generally satisfied with our first outing. The first dinner in Camp Catta did not disappoint either. We also met the other climbers (only ones) in camp that night, four Polish guys who have apparently just sent the (Lynn Hill) line, called Bravo Les Filles clocking rated 8b. They’d continue to do some hard and serious routes for the next week while we wallowed in our intro grades.
Photos
![Camp Catta Camp Catta](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_4809-1024x768.jpg)
A view of tent shelters in Camp Catta (which also has cabins that are not visible here; Sept. 2011).
Alien (10P, 6b)
![Alien Alien](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_0042-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley leading pitch 5 of Alien. This is the first of the steeper pitches above the apron and reminiscent of some Cochise face climbs (Sept. 2011).
![Karambony Pillar Karambony Pillar](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_2679-768x1024.jpg)
The amazing face of the Karambony Pillar, home to the Tough Enough route clocking in at 8c+ and 12 pitches long...Ondra's recent onsight (Sept. 2011).
![Camp Catta Camp Catta](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_2683-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley hiking back to Camp Catta (the huts in the photo) after our first climb in Madagascar (Sept. 2011).
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