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Old Woman (left) and Old Man.
A great day on the rocks with Shirley. Drove down from Portland on Saturday morning and were back home by 7pm Saturday evening. The adventure was spiced up due to a collapsed bridge over the raging Boulder Creek (see photo below). The climbing was very enjoyable. We did the
Dilley’s Delight (5.9) route to the top of the Old Man and the
Northwest Ridge (5.4) of the Old Woman. Had the whole place to ourselves. Perfect weather. According to the summit register, we had the 2nd ascent of Old Man this year. Also, we were impressed by the register on top of Old Woman – the first entry predates my birth by a year! Pretty cool stuff. Will probably go back to do some more pinnacles in the area sometime in the fall.
Photos
Old Man (left) and Old Woman as seen from highway 138 just east of the formations. Yes, it’s not the greatest photo as it was shot with the sun shining head on, but it does show the sleek profiles of the formations (May 1, 2004).
The mental crux of the entire climb day: crossing the mostly collapsed bridge over Boulder Creek. Note that 2 out of the 3 spans are cracked. You walk on the center (cracked) span and hold on to the one remaining with your hands (and hope for the best). Guess the note at the trailhead warning of the washed out bridge was not kidding (May 1, 2004).
Old Man as seen from its southern base during the approach. A newish (back in 2004) bolted (?) 5.11c route called The Prize climbs this face (May 1, 2004).
Old Man (right) and Old Woman (May 2004).
Shirley climbing up to the Old Woman-Old Man notch where Dilley’s Delight (5.9) begins (May 1, 2004).
Looking up at the Old Man from the notch (May 2004).
Shirley starting up the first pitch of Dilley’s Delight (May 2004).
Rattlesnake Rock (May 2004).
Higher on pitch 1 of Dilley’s Delight route (May 2004).
Views down to the highway from the pitch 1 belay station on Dilley’s Delight (May 2004).
Shirley at the first belay station (May 2004).
View down from the start of pitch 2 (May 2004).
Shirley belaying me on pitch 2 of Dilley’s Delight from the notch (May 2004).
Looking up at the crack on pitch 2 of Dilley’s Delight (May 2004).
An old bolt and hanger somewhere on pitch 2 (May 2004).
More views from higher up on pitch 2 (May 2004).
A view of Rattlesnake Rock from the summit of the Old Man (May 2004).
Shirley topping out on pitch 2 of Dilley’s Delight and the summit of the Old Man (May 2004).
A view up-valley from the summit of the Old Man (May 2004).
Shirley on the summit of the Old Man (May 2004).
Yours truly at the summit of Old Man. Old Woman is in the background (May 1, 2004).
More choss from the summit (May 2004).
Shirley signing the summit register atop of Old Man according to which ours was the second ascent of the Old Man in 2004. The first was back in March (May 1, 2004)
Shirley at the rap anchor (May 2004).
A view of the Old Woman’s summit from the Old Man (May 2004).
Another one of Shirley at the summit rap anchor (May 2004).
Rapping off the summit of the Old Man (May 2004).
Shirley rapping off the Old Man (May 2004).
Looking up at the Old Woman from the base of the Northwest Ridge route (May 2004).
Beginning the lead of the Northwest Ridge on Old Woman (5.4R). Not much pro placement opportunity on the lower 2/3rds but the going is quite easy (May 1, 2004).
Yours truly on the summit of the Old Woman (May 2004).
Shirley on the summit of the Old Woman with the top of the Old Man visible in the background (May 2004).
The required summit shot atop The Old Woman. This is looking north and “that” is a nalgene water bottle hanging from the back of my harness……though I WAS quite happy to be up there (May 1, 2004).
Another one of Shirley on the summit of the Old Woman (May 2004).
This is a shot of page 1 of the summit log atop The Old Woman. Note the year appearing on the page: “1974”. I guess not many ascents have taken place over the last 30 years since it’s the same notebook (May 1, 2004).
Shirley back at the base of the Old Woman (with the Old Man visible in the background; May 2004).
Old Woman (left) and Old Man as seen from the northwest (May 1, 2004).
Old Woman (left) and Old Man as seen from the northwest. Dilley’s Delight route climbs up to the obvious notch on the right side of The Old Man (May 1, 2004).
Go back to Oregon Cascades.