Dolomites – Part 8

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09/09/08. East Face – Steger (VI-, 18P) on Cima Catinaccio

Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Steger on Cima Catinaccio.
Two days later, we were still tired from the Cima Grande outing – especially mentally. We’ve gotten weathered off (before even getting on!) Cima Catinaccio two weeks earlier and it seemed like a good fit: nice looking long line but with mostly easy climbing. Hike in to Rifugio Vajolet where we got an individual room this time! Very nice – nobody but us to snore all night long. Next morning we were at the base by 7 when two friendly Canadians arrived. We let Jesse and Graham from BC go first looking for an even easier (route finding-free) day. Both the pitches and the conversation flowed. Climbing is not sustained but the exposure and position were nice. I thought the last two pitches (a face and a chimney) were the most fun. Later in the evening, we joined Graham and Jesse at the Rifugio for dinner. We also met a couple at our table from Bellingham, Pitkin and Betsy. As we all had cascadeclimbers.com avatars, it was like a cc.com get together (of cc.com irregulars). Next morning we hiked out with Pitkin and Betsy making plans to go climbing together in Smith later in the year.

Photos

Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Back at the bus drop off point. Heading up to Rifugio Vajolet with Cima Catinaccio dominating the view (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
The impressive looking east face of Cima Catinaccio. The 18-pitch Steger route climbs (more or less) the plumb line up to the higher (right) summit (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley hiking up to Rif. Vajolet near the base of Cima Catinaccio (tallest formation in the photo). Our planned Steger route climbs the prominent east face in a nearly direct line to the summit (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley on the approach hike to Rifugio Vajolet the day before our climb of the Steger route on Cima Catinaccio. Punta Emma is on the left; Vajolet Towers are peeping in through the notch (…next time; Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Punta Emma on the left and Vajolet Towers visible through the notch (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
A closer look at Vajolet Towers (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
A pre-sleep hot chocolate at Rifugio Vajolet…really got spoiled by the hut system in the Dolomites. Perhaps not wilderness but we’re soft and it was kind of a nice change for a while (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Comfy private room at Rifugio Vajolet (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley on pitch 2 of Steger (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Views of Rif. Vajolet from low on the route (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Arriving at the second belay (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Leading pitch 3 of Steger (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley on pitch 3 (per Memmel & Kohler guidebook) of Cima Catinaccio’s Steger route (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Arriving at the third belay (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Starting the lead of the fourth pitch of Steger (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Looking back at Shirley from the start of pitch 4 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Natural chockstone pro on Cima Catinaccio’s Steger route…felt bomber (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Higher on pitch 4 I think (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Our Canadian friends (from cascadeclimbers.com no less) starting up the 5th pitch. Jesse leading and Graham belaying (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley topping out on the 4th pitch of Steger (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Leading the 5th pitch of Steger (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Views from Steger. Rifugio Vajolet is in the center (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Leading pitch 7 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Views from the route (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
More pitch 7 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley & I at 7th belay on the Steger route on Cima Catinaccio’s east face. Photo courtesy of Graham R. of British Columbia (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
The views (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley at the 7th belay on the Steger route. This is where a slight rightward traverse starts (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Pitch 8 of Steger. Jess is following Graham & I’m leading pitch 8 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 8 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
I think this is pitch 9 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Graham belaying Jessi on the start of pitch 10 (chimney) of Steger (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Leading pitch 10 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 10 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
I think this is the pitch 10 chimney. Photo by Graham (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Topping out on pitch 10 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley topping out on pitch 11 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Leading pitch 12 of Steger (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
About to tunnel under the huge chockstone on pitch 12 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
A closer look at the Dolomite pano (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley arriving at the 12th belay (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley at the 13th belay (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
I think this is the 15th pitch (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Nearing the 17th belay. Photo by Graham. Thanks you (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley on the 17th pitch of Steger (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Pitch 17 (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley arriving at the 17th belay on Steger (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Leading the final (I think) pitch of Steger (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Views from high on the route (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley on the long (~100m) low 5th class scramble to the summit of Cima Catinaccio. This is above the end of the Steger route. Rifugio Vajolet is visible below (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley approaching the summit (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Summit cross (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley starting the descent from summit of Cima Catinaccio after our climb of Steger route on the mountains east face (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Hiking down after a handful of raps (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
The awesome looking Vajolet Towers (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Shirley, Vajolet Towers, and Rifugio Alberto Garti (Sept. 2008).
Cima Catinaccio - Steger
Rifugio Vajolet and dinner as seen during the hike down from Cima Catinaccio (Sept. 2008).

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