Corrugation Corner.With the continued work-from-home silliness, we decided to try remote working from a slightly more remote location than home. We looked around for dog-friendly cragging areas reasonably close to significant cities (i.e. reasonably high-speed internet) and finally settled on Auburn, CA. Five days of work bookended by 2 days of climbing on either side and with a healthy dose of water fun thrown in. Fact is that these days we’re about as fired up for domestic climbing as we are for taking our pup for some backcountry swimming (frankly, more fired up for the latter). On day one, we hiked into the East Wall of Lovers Leap aiming for The Line which turned out to have a mini clusterfuck (3 parties) on it by the time we got there. Instead, we climbed its next-door neighbor called Psychedelic Tree (5.9, 3 or 4 pitches). This one only had a single party on it and some hollow sounding rock on the long first pitch (combined first 2 pitches). Nice route with a pretty top-out. After that we dove to Lake Tahoe for some lap swimming in the gin clear water. The following Saturday we came back for the classic Corrugation Corner (5.7, 3 pitches) via the first pitch of Traveler’s Buttress, a route which we had climbed 10 years ago. Its classic status seems well-deserved: easy climbing but certainly a pretty position. More Tahoe watersports followed.
The Main Wall of Lovers Leap during our morning approach (July 2020). The East Wall from our approach in the morning. It looked so promisingly empty till we got to the base and found 3 parties lining up for The Line (July 2020). Shirley and Benny waiting our turn at base of Psychedelic Tree (July 2020). Pitch 1 of Psychedelic Tree (July 2020). Benny just wants to go swimming (July 2020). Higher on pitch 1 (July 2020). Shirley following pitches 1 & 2 of Psychedelic Tree (July 2020). Shirley higher on pitch 2 (July 2020). Leading pitch 3, our 2 (July 2020). Higher on pitch 3 (July 2020). Shirley starting up pitch 3 of Psychedelic Tree (July 2020). Leading the short but excellent pitch 4 (July 2020). Looking back at Shirley from the lead of the 4th and final pitch of Psychedelic Tree (July 2020). Almost done (July 2020). Shirley starting the last and best pitch of Psychedelic Tree (July 2020). Top of the Main Wall (July 2020). More of Shirley on the last pitch (July 2020). Shirley at the one of a few roofs on the last pitch (July 2020). Views from the top of the East Wall (July 2020). Shirley almost done with Psychedelic Tree (July 2020). Shirley on the quick hike down from the top of the East Wall (July 2020). Lovers Leap (July 2020). Hiking back to Benny…rushing back since the sun had come around the corner and it was getting pretty warm (July 2020). Shirley and Benny starting the hike down (July 2020). Hiking down and more than ready for a dip in Lake Tahoe (July 2020). Unknown climbers on the striking looking Line route. Psychedelic Tree can be seen to the right in the upper half of the wall at edge of photo (July 2020). A closer look at The Line (July 2020). Shirley and Benny ready for a dip in Lake Tahoe (July 2020). Benny and Lake Tahoe (July 2020). Lake Tahoe (July 2020). Benny going for the stick in Lake Tahoe (July 2020). Drying off (July 2020). Let’s not flatter ourselves – OK at best (July 2020). Chilling back the cabin in Auburn (July 2020). Benny enjoying the cabin (July 2020). Benny working remotely with Shirley hanging out on the internet (July 2020). Afternoon swimming sessions in the North Fork of the American River (July 2020). More river action (July 2020). Shirley, Benny, and the cow hide (July 2020). Lower Buttress and Main Wall (above) during our early morning approach to Traveler Buttress (July 2020). Lower Buttress with the classic Surrealistic Pillar route on the right (July 2020). Traveler Buttress (4P, 5.9) and Corrugation Corner (3P, 5.7 on the right) from the approach trail (July 2020). Shirley and Benny nearing the start of Traveler Buttress (July 2020). Starting up Traveler Buttress. We used the first pitch (climbing it for the second time) as approach to Corrugation Corner (July 2020). Higher on the same pitch (July 2020). Cool climbing on this one (July 2020). Almost done. Trying to race a party we saw down below on the trail. Fortunately, they headed up for Hospital Corner (July 2020). Shirley topping out on pitch 1 of Traveler Buttress (which we had done 10 years ago; July 2020). Shirley moving the belay to the base of Corrugation Corner (July 2020).
Starting up the first pitch of Corrugation Corner (July 2020).
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 1 of Corrugation Corner (July 2020). Shirley on pitch 1 of Corrugation Corner (July 2020). Topping out on pitch 1 (July 2020). Start of pitch 2 of Corrugation Corner (July 2020). View up from midway on pitch 2 of Corrugation Corner (July 2020). Looking back down towards Shirley from the lead of pitch 2 (July 2020). Shirley following pitch 2 (July 2020). On the spectacular arete section of pitch 2 (July 2020). Pitch 2 (July 2020). Views from the belay (July 2020). Almost at the belay (July 2020). Shirley admiring the final “beached whale” move onto the belay ledge (July 2020). Shirley at the spacious belay at the mouth of the chimney that marks the start of P3 (July 2020). View down the short chimney (July 2020). Views down from the lead of the third pitch (July 2020). The East Wall from top of The Main Wall (July 2020). Shirley on pitch 3 (July 2020). Shirley on pitch 3 of Corrugation Corner (July 2020). Shirley arriving at the top of The Main Wall (July 2020). Shirley and the three guys who woke up even earlier than us atop The Main Wall (July 2020). Shirley hiking off the top – fun climbs and easy descents (July 2020). Big trees on the hike down (July 2020). While Shirley waited at the junction with the main trail, I ran up to get our boy who’s been waiting for us at the base of Traveler Buttress (July 2020). Benny and The Main Wall. There’s a climber on the first pitch of Traveler Buttress (July 2020). Lovers Leap (July 2020). Swimming in Tahoe really hit the spot after the boredom of hot climbing at The Leap (July 2020). Lake Tahoe (July 2020). Happy dogs!!
