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Shirley nearing the top of pitch 1 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
So in the third week of May in 2005, Shirley & I tried climbing Epinephrine. We got four pitches up and decided we did not have enough water to continue. We bailed and climbed these two short bolted pitches of Sand Felipe (5.10-) next door. Not much of a consolation prize but OK.
A week later we were back in Red Rocks (Memorial Day Weekend). Actually, we were supposed to be in the Sierras but changed plans given the unusually high snow cover that year in the Sierra high country. We climbed Refried Brains on the far left side of Black Velvet Wall. We did the recommended first four pitches and then rapped. An excellent trad route! Day or two later, we climbed Epinephrine and this time brought more water.
Photos
Sand Felipe (5.10-)
Starting up Sand Felipe (May 2005).
High on Sand Felipe...think we combined the two short pitches but it's been a long time & I can't be sure (May 2005).
Shirley hiking out of Black Velvet Canyon after some failure and after we climbed the Sand Felipe pitch (May 2005).
Refried Brains (5.9)
Leading pitch 1 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Nearing the top of 1 of Refried Brains...a great pitch on a great small route (May 2005).
Shirley starting up the first pitch of Refried Brains on Black Velvet Wall (May 2005).
Shirley following pitch 1 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Shirley nearing the top of pitch 1 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Looking back at Shirley from low on pitch 2 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Leading pitch 2 of Refried Brains on Black Velvet Wall (May 2005).
Shirley topping out on pitch 2 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Looking back at Shirley from the initial traverse section of pitch 3 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Starting the crack section on pitch 3 of Refried Brains (March 2005).
Leading the spectacular crack on pitch 3 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Looking back at Shirley from near the top of pitch 3 of Refried Brains - best pitch of the route IMHO (May 2005).
Shirley on the spectacular pitch 3 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Shirley topping out on pitch 3 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Looking up-canyon from high up on Refried Brains. Much of Black Velvet Wall is visible in profile.
Leading pitch 4 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Leading the lower part of pitch 4 of Refried Brains. This is below the face section with old bolts (on the left; May 2005).
Looking back at Shirley from midway up pitch 4 of Refried Brains (May 2005).
Shirley nearing the top of Refried Brains' pitch 4. We rapped from this pitch (May 2005).
Shirley nearing the top of pitch 4 of Refried Brains. This was our turn around point (May 2005).
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