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08/29/08. Pillar Rib (VI-, 18P) on Tofana Di Rozes’ South Face Buttress 2

Pillar Rib.

We wanted to climb one of Tofana’s handsome south face buttress routes since laying our eyes on it from Cinque Torri on day one. But of course, after our Torre Venezia climb more shitty weather rolled through the Dolomites. As the storms were clearing, I got the worst case of indigestion (the cheese-rich diet I guess) that kept me bed-ridden with labor pains for an additional day. As the storms and indigested cheese cleared up, we headed out to Rifugio DiBona and climbed Tofana’s 18-pitch Pillar Rib (a.k.a. Costantini/Ghedina) the following day. Fun climbing with a spectacular traverse pitch midway up the route. Most amazing part was perhaps the fact that for the first time the top of The Buttress was not enshrouded in thick clouds. In fact we had perfect weather and the only “crowding” on the route was a pair of friendly Austrians behind us. Nice top-out on the rib and a mostly straightforward descent.

Photos

Sella Pass with First Sella on right and Third Sella on left. I think we got crowded off of something on Second Sella (August 2008).

A closer look at the Third Sella Tower (Aug. 2008).

Langkofel Massif (Aug. 2008).

In a cable car on the way up to Alpe di Susi (Aug. 2008).

A picnic on Alpe di Susi (Aug. 2008).

Tofana Di Rozes (Aug. 2008).

South Buttress 2 (just left of center) with its classic Pillar Rib a.k.a Constantini-Ghedina route (August 2008).

Rifugio Dibona and Tofana Di Rozes (August 2008).

South face of Tofana Di Rozes. The 18-pitch Costantini/Ghedina route (a.k.a. Pillar Rib) climbs the second prominent buttress from the right staying close to the arete (Aug. 2008).

In the Rifugio Dibona (August 2008).

Buttress Two of the south face of Tofana Di Rozes. View is from our morning approach to the start of the Pillar Rib route (starts near the left edge of the buttress; Aug. 2008).

Starting up the 18-pitch Costantini/Ghedina (a.k.a. Pillar Rib) route on Tofana’s Buttress Two (Aug. 2008).

Shirley nearing the top of pitch 2 (we combined 1 and 2) of Costantini/Ghedina. An Austrian team is below us (Aug. 2008).

Leading pitch 3 of Pillar Rib with the rest of Buttress Two towering above (Aug. 2008).

Shirley on pitch 3 traverse on the Pillar Rib route on the Second Buttress. Third Buttress is in the background (Aug. 2008).

More of Shirley on the third pitch of Pillar Rib (Aug. 2008).

Leading pitch 4 of Pillar Rib – up the dihedral before cutting back left onto the face above (Aug. 2008).

Leading pitch 5 (which we combined with the previous one) of Pillar Rib (Aug. 2008).

A closer look at pitch 5 (Aug. 2008).

Shirley on pitch 5 (Aug. 2008).

More traversing (pitch 5; Aug. 2008).

Shirley nearing the top of the 5th pitch of the Pillar Rib on Tofana (Aug. 2008).

Starting pitch 6 (Aug. 2008).

Shirley topping out on pitch 6 (Aug. 2008).

Looking back towards the Cinque Torri group across the valley (Aug. 2008).

Starting the lead of pitch 7 (first VI- pitch) of the Pillar Rib (Aug. 2008).

Higher on the same pitch. The next pitch traverses sharply left from there (Aug. 2008).

A closer look at pitch 7 (Aug. 2008).

Pitch 7 top out (Aug. 2008).

Leading the super fun traverse pitch (#8) on the Pillar Rib (Aug. 2008).

More pitch 8 (Aug. 2008).

Shirley on the 8th pitch traverse (VI-) on the Pillar Rib route of Tofana Di Rozes (Aug. 2008).

More of the same cool traverse pitch (Aug. 2008).

Leading on one of the upper pitches (9th probably) of the Pillar Rib (Aug. 2008).

Shirley on pitch 9 (Aug. 2008).

Shirley on 9th pitch of Pillar Rib. This is where the route changes sides on the giant arete (Aug. 2008).

Topping out on pitch 10 (Aug. 2008).

I think this is pitch 12-ish (Aug. 2008).

Shirley on pitch 12 (Aug. 2008).

Pitch 13 I think (Aug. 2008).

Pitch 13 (Aug. 2008).

Topping out on pitch 14 (Aug. 2008).

Unknown climbers high on the Third Pillar of Tofana di Rozes (I think! August 2008).

Shirley at the 14th belay (Aug. 2008).

Pitch 15ish (Aug. 2008).

Pitch 16ish (Aug. 2008).

Nearing the top of the route (Aug. 2008).

Views from high on the route (Aug. 2008).

Shirley arriving at the top (Aug. 2008).

At the top of the route (Aug. 2008).

Shirley on the summit of Buttress Two of Tofana Di Rozes (Aug. 2008).

Shirley starting the descent from the top of Buttress Two on Tofana (Aug. 2008).

Hiking down (Aug. 2008).

Some more views (Aug. 2008).

A nice solid bridge we encountered on the hike down …Shirley said it was solid & that I should go first (Aug. 2008).

The descent trail (Aug. 2008).

Downward bound (Aug. 2008).

Shirley hiking down (Aug. 2008).

Old Rifugio Guissani (Aug. 2008).

A little break (Aug. 2008).

Almost beer time (Aug. 2008).

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