Sisyphus | chossclimbers.com

Summary

Shirley topping out on pitch 7 of Sisyphus...don't let the mossy looks turn you off, the climb path is nothing but purty purty stone (June 2012).

Though we were supposed to be in Yosemite for a day of climbing on Sunday, we somehow found ourselves driving over the Washington Pass through some shitty conditions late Saturday night. Morning saw us waking up at the base of the Goat Wall outside of Mazama under an overcast but mostly dry sky. Our last and only experience with climbing on the formation was three years ago and pretty blah. But the place was in the rain shadow and did offer longer routes and so there we were. This time we headed up for the Sisyphus route advertised as 10 pitches long and clocking in at 5.11a. I don’t know if it were the lowered expectations or perhaps the few cups of coffee we had that morning or maybe the softness of the rating but we enjoyed Sisyphus – a lot. I remember two great 5.10- pitches (#3 & 7), a fun 5.9 near the top (#9) and a super-fun 5.11a (Smith 5.10b?) somewhere in the middle. With our friends’ old beta we quickly rapped the route (3X single & 3X double) and were driving home early enough to have our pick of places to eat.

Photos

Shirley on our short approach hike to the base of the Goat Wall. View is towards the northwest and up the Methow River Valley (June 2012).

Leading the super fun pitch 3 (5.10a/b) of Sisyphus - well bolted and steepish climbing on rock-solid rock (June 2012).

The funness of pitch 3 of Sisyphus (June 2012).

Shirley topping out on pitch 3 of Sisyphus (June 2012).

Shirley starting up pitch 4 of Sisyphus (June 2012).

Rainy Methow River Valley (June 2012).

Shirley leading pitch 5 of Sisyphus (June 2012).

Starting the lead of the crux pitch 6 of Sisyphus. Two comments: soft 5.11a and yes, those are indeed red panties (June 2012).

Pitch 6 of Sisyphus (June 2012).

Shirley following the crux pitch (#6) of Sisyphus... a soft sort of 5.11a and very tightly bolted (June 2012)

Shirley topping out on the delicate pitch 6 - somewhat slick but otherwise impeccable rock. Fun climbing (June 2012).

Leading pitch 7 of Sisyphus (5.10a/b) - more slick rock and more fun climbing. I thought the crux of the pitch was a move just left of the semi-obvious roof (June 2012).

Shirley topping out on pitch 7 of Sisyphus...don't let the mossy looks turn you off, the climb path is nothing but purty purty stone (June 2012).

Shirley moving the belay on "pitch" 8 of Sisyphus (June 2012).

Shirley leading the 10th and final pitch of Sisyphus (June 2012).

Blondie (happy puppy!!) and Shirley hiking out after our climb of Sisyphus on the Goat Wall (June 2012).

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