Smith Classics With Clay And Alyssa

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Summary

The Cave Route

The crew on the summit of Brogan Spire.

A great weekend of Smith’s four-star moderates with our friends Clay & Alyssa. Went as two teams of two this time around & ticked off a few trad beauties, including The Cave Route, Spiderman, and (Monkey’s) West Face Variation (5.6, 5.7, & 5.8…or in the pound sterling currency: Hard Severe, Very Severe and Hard Very Severe). It was a pleasure to see the miles of progress since their first time out in 11-worth. Props to Clay for climbing through his flu (voiceless and all)!

Photos

The Cave Route

The Cave Route

The long, alpine approach to the Marsupials at Smith (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

Clay on the Eigernordwand (Apr. 2012)?


The Cave Route

Nein!! The mini pitch 1 of The Cave Route...which got a bump up from 5.6 to 5.7 in the new (2nd ed. ) Watts' Bible (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

Clay topping out on pitch 2 of The Cave Route (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

Alyssa framed by THE Cave of The Cave Route's pitch 2 (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

Alyssa on pitch 2 of The Cave Route...probably hoping for some real climbing & not just this chossy stair hiking 🙂


The Cave Route

Alyssa and Clay soaking up that central Oregon sunshine on The Cave Route (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

Clay on the third pitch of The Cave Route on Brogan Spire with Shirley belaying (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

Clay approaching the summit of B-gan spire with Alyssa & me waiting to shoot summit photos of the A-team (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

Shirley & Clay urging us on to hurry up with the beer (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

Shirley & Clay on the summit of Brogan.


The Cave Route

Alyssa hiking (in this case, quite literally) pitch 3 of The Cave Route...next day we went climbing (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

Alyssa approaching the party scene atop Brogan (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

Summit beers on Brogan Spire.

The Cave Route

A thirsty (greedy!) hand reaching for the beer...

The Cave Route

Cheers Clay!!

The Cave Route

Summit of Brogan Spire 🙂


The Cave Route

Alyssa rapping off the summit of Brogan Spire; Shirley is down at the base (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

The happy team on the hike out after the climb of The Cave Route (Apr. 2012).


The Cave Route

The crew hiking down after the climb of The Cave Route (opposite side) on the Brogan Spire (high point just right of center; Apr. 2012).

Spiderman

Spiderman

The approach on day 2 (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Hiking in to Spiderman Buttress but really keeping an eye out on the future objective(s).


Spiderman

Alyssa and Clay at the base of Spiderman (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Shirley starting up Spiderman with Clay spotting...think that's a beer in his right hand (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Shirley starting up Spiderman (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Shirley having Spiderman for brunch (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Clay and Mt. Jefferson (...perhaps - I get my snow slogs confused sometimes) and Spiderman is also in the mix (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Clay starting up Spiderman on yet another perfect spring day (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Clay on the finishing moves of pitch 1 of Spiderman with Shirley belaying (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Clay with that warm sunny glow all around him on pitch 1 of Spiderman (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Kill Blondie! Kill!!


Spiderman

Alyssa enjoying the opening cracks of Spiderman (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Clay on pitch 2 of Spiderman and about to fire the roof (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Alyssa jamming the steeper finish of Spiderman's pitch 1. Clay is above pulling around the roof of pitch 2 (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

Alyssa expressing her preference for cracks over face holds - a natural born trad climber (spot on Alyssa!!).


Spiderman

Alyssa lounging at the first belay station on Spiderman (Apr. 2012).


Spiderman

The team atop Spiderman Buttress (Apr. 2012).

The West Face Variation Direct

West Face Variation Direct

Shirley starting up West Face Variation - it's been a while but the route seems to have gotten even funner with time (Apr. 2012).


West Face Variation Direct

Shirley leading the opening pitch of West Face Variation with Clay belaying and Alyssa keeping any eye out for rabbits (Apr. 2012).


West Face Variation Direct

Shirley leading the start of West Face Variation Direct (Apr. 2012).


West Face Variation Direct

Trrrrip.


West Face Variation Direct

Clay on pitch 1 of West Face Variation Direct (Apr. 2012).


West Face Variation Direct

Clay enjoying the cracks just above the opening boulder move of West Face Variation Direct (Apr. 2012).


West Face Variation Direct

Alyssa floating up the first pitch of the West Face Variation (Apr. 2012).


West Face Variation Direct

Clay plunging into the HVS section of West Face Variation Direct (March 2012).


West Face Variation Direct

Clay almost done with the difficulties on the West Face Variation Direct with the Monkey watching on (Apr. 2012).


West Face Variation Direct

Smith's west side lineup incl. Mesa Verde Wall (foreground) & Smith Rock Group (Apr. 2012).


West Face Variation Direct

Alyssa finishing up the West Face Variation and about to start enjoying the well air conditioned notch (Apr. 2012).


The West Face Variation Direct

Shirley ready for Mexican food (Apr. 2012).


West Face Variation Direct

Clay rapping down from Bohn Street (Apr. 2012).


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