Shirley and Blondie hiking into the Lower Gorge on a nice, sunny October day. Monument formation (with its "classic" Abraxas 5.11a C1) dominates the background view. Crooked River is below (this is the parking lot/west side of river; October 22, 2005).

Leading Cruel Sister (5.10a) - arguably the best hand crack of the grade in the park(Catwalk Cliff, Lower Gorge's West Side Columns). Good hand jams and good feet. Gets harder near top if you have small hands (Oct. 23, 2005).

Leading Cruel Sister in the Lower Gorge (Oct. 2005).

Blondie looking pretty but not in that flakey bimbo way (like all contemplative and stuff) in the Lower Gorge (Oct. 2005).

Starting up Blood Clot (5.10b) next to the Cruel Sister line (Oct. 2005).

Shirley seconding Blood Clot (5.10b) on the Catwalk Cliff (Oct. 2005).

Leading Last Days (5.10a). Nothing special; more awkward than it looks but still quite reasonable (Oct. 22, 2005).

Upper face of the Wombat formation as seen from The Lower Gorge. East Side Columns (basalt) of The Lower Gorge are in the foreground (Oct. 23, 2005).

Beginning the lead of Quasar (5.10a) on Catwalk Cliff (Lower Gorge's West Columns). There's a slight runout (~12 - 15 feet) at the base as you move up the frothy rock (Oct. 23, 2005).

Shirley following Quasar (5.10a) on the Catwalk Cliff (Oct. 2008).

Shirley rapping from Quasar (5.10a) on Catwalk Cliff (Lower Gorge's East Columns area). Wombat formation in the Marsupials is in the background (Oct. 23, 2005).

Second go of the weekend on Blood Clot. Entering the thin but short crux section (~25 feet up). Someone is top roping Cruel Sister (5.10a) immediately to the left (Oct. 23, 2005).