The Third Pillar | chossclimbers.com

Summary

Third Pillar.

Shirley and I climbed the Regular Route on The Third Pillar Of Mount Dana (5 pitches, 5.9+) in July of 2007. This was a consolation prize after failing on a bigger objective in some valley down below. Perhaps it was all the hyping up we’ve heard, but there was nothing that outstanding about this line. Nice for sure but best 5.9 anywhere? If you says so. Somewhat unique also in the sense that you finish the climb next to your packs. Crowded that day.

Photos

On the way to a walk of shame (July 2007).

Leading pitch 2 (July 2007).

Big El C towers above (July 2007).

Atop of Pine Line (July 2007).

Middle Cathedral Rock from the base of The Nose (July 2007).

We got to The Valley in the afternoon and bivied at the edges of legality – one pitch up Pine Line (July 2007).

Jugging pitch 1 of The Nose (which we had fixed the evening before; July 2007).

Starting pitch 2 I think of The Nose (July 2007).

Higher on pitch 2 (July 2007).

Pitch 2 of The Nose (July 2007).

Pitch 2 (July 2007).

Pitch 3 (July 2007).

Looking back at Shirley from Sickle Ledge (July 2007).

Fixing pitch 5 above Sickle (July 2007).

Shirley on Sickle Ledge (July 2007).

Middle Cathedral Rock from Sickle Ledge (July 2007).

The bail (July 2007).

Shirley starting the scenic approach to the Third Pillar Of Dana (July 2007).

The scenic approach hike (July 2007).

Getting closer (July 2007).

The Third Pillar Of Dana with two people on top (July 2007).

An unknown party at the start of the Regular Route on Third Pillar Of Dana (July 2007).

Pitch 1 (July 2007).

More pitch 1 (July 2007).

Shirley following the first pitch (July 2007).

Some views (July 2007).

Topping out on pitch 1 (July 2007).

Leading pitch 2 of the Regular Route (July 2007).

Pitch 2 with a member of another party at belay (July 2007).

Shirley on pitch 3 (July 2007).

Views of Mono Lake from the Regular Route on Third Pillar Of Dana (July 2007).

Topping out on pitch 3 (July 2007).

Shirley entering a chimney behind a large flake on pitch 4 – I think we belayed here and broke up P4 into two pitches (July 2007).

Shirley on pitch 4 (July 2007).

Arriving at a claustrophobic belay (July 2007).

We moved the belay to the right spot for P4 – top of the flake (July 2007).

Starting the lead of the 5th and last pitch (July 2007).

Looking back at Shirley from the start of the lead of pitch 5 (July 2007).

Higher on pitch 5 (July 2007).

At the crux (July 2007).

Shirley following the 5th and final pitch of the Regular Route on Third Pillar Of Dana (July 2007).

More views of Mono Lake from the top of The Pillar (July 2007).

Shirley in the thin of it on pitch 5 (July 2007).

Views from the top; that’s highway 120 dropping down the east slope towards Lee Vining (July 2007).

Shirley topping out on the route (July 2007).

The ruggedly beautiful Dana Plateau (July 2007).

Hiking back (July 2007).

Go back to The Sierras.