Go back to India.
Go back to Bangalore To Lonavala.
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8496-225x300.jpg)
Dukes Nose.
In the morning, we were joined by Punit’s climbing friend Kumar and his student Sahil who’d take us to the base of the Normal Route (5 pitch, 6b+) on the Dukes Nose formation. A quick, 30 minute hike brought us to the overlook and the rack-up point. Wow – a truly impressive looking prow of black rock. The climbing was fun and the steepness was quite a change of pace from the slabbiness of stuff we did in West Bengal and Karnataka. The steep 6b+ crux on pitch 5 got aided by us. Punit and the crew were waiting for us on the summit. After lunch, we drove 2 hours to Mumbai.
Photos
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1019-1024x768.jpg)
At the trailhead for Dukes Nose (Dec. 2023).
![Kumar and Shirley on the morning approach to Dukes Nose (Dec. 2023).](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1028-1024x768.jpg)
Dukes Nose approach (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1030-2-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley on the (easy) approach (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1032-1024x768.jpg)
And there it is (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1035-1024x768.jpg)
Rack-up spot (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1040-768x1024.jpg)
Dukes Nose in most of its glory. The Normal Route covers this terrain but there’s another half (?) below the obvious horizontal break that can also be climbed (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/61025490-6a5a-4eaa-b02a-22d09065ae15-576x1024.jpg)
Racking-up (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/11e9c7b8-8241-47b5-8ba1-6b9a561fff87-1024x576.jpg)
Starting the final (exposed) section of the approach. Photo by Punit (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/4dc2d464-62dd-4305-857b-be7869a0c58d-1024x768.jpg)
At the starting line of the Normal Route on Dukes Nose. Photo by Kumar (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8278-1024x768.jpg)
Looking back towards Shirley and Kumar from the traverse to the start of the Normal Route (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/de9365cb-6ff0-4bba-ab7b-14242eebe914-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley traversing to the start of the Normal Route. Photo by Kumar (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8285-1024x768.jpg)
New highway, including a tunnel and a bridge, being built (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8283-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley approaching the start of the Normal Route (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/8c1fae28-d2f4-43fd-848d-ed7a635b1e9e-768x1024.jpg)
At the start. Photo by Kumar (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_7779-1024x768.jpg)
Starting up the first pitch of the Normal Route on Dukes Nose (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_7780-768x1024.jpg)
Still pitch 1. After mostly slab climbing in West Bengal and Bangalore, the steep pitch 1 was a wake up call (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_7783-768x1024.jpg)
Higher on pitch 1 (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8297-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley starting the first pitch of the Normal Route on Dukes Nose (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8288-1024x768.jpg)
Looking back towards the view point where we started. Our friends are still there (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8368-768x1024.jpg)
Pitch 1 (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8321-1024x768.jpg)
The shadow of The Nose (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8387-1024x768.jpg)
And some more of pitch 1 (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8399-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley at the first belay of the Normal Route on Dukes Nose (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_7787-768x1024.jpg)
Starting up pitch 2 (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_7789-768x1024.jpg)
Higher on pitch 2 (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8420-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley on pitch 2 (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8437-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley higher on pitch 2 (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8453-768x1024.jpg)
Kind of steep (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8461-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley at the second belay on Dukes Nose (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_7796-768x1024.jpg)
Pitch 3. The crux of pitch 4 is visible above me and on the left. Click photo for a not so quick video (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8462-768x1024.jpg)
Looking back at Shirley from the start of pitch 3 (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8466-1024x768.jpg)
More views downward from the lead of the third pitch (Dec. 2023).
![](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8477-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley starting the third pitch (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8487-1024x768.jpg)
Views from the third belay (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8496-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley nearing the third belay (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_8507-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley topping out on pitch 3 (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_7799-768x1024.jpg)
Starting up the crux pitch 4. The crux bulge is right above; more bulgy than it looks here. Got aided by us (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/f662a17f-db2b-4312-8941-8ca8e2a448e7-576x1024.jpg)
Aiding the crux pitch 4 of the Normal Route. Photo by Punit (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8511-1024x768.jpg)
Looking back at Shirley from the lead (aid) of the fourth pitch of (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8517-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley (almost) out of the difficulties of pitch 4 (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8533-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley arriving at the fourth belay station (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_7805-768x1024.jpg)
Leading the fifth and final pitch (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8537-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley at the fourth belay station (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8548-1024x768.jpg)
Wide angle view from the top of the Normal Route (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8544-1024x768.jpg)
A closer look at some hikers at the overlook (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8554-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley nearing the fifth belay (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1055-1024x768.jpg)
Belaying Shirley on the finishing moves of Dukes Nose. Photo by Punit (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1054-1024x768.jpg)
A view of some slackliners taken from the summit (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1059-768x1024.jpg)
Posers at the final belay. Photo by Punit (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1061-1024x768.jpg)
A small temple on the summit (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1070-768x1024.jpg)
A chameleon on the summit (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1065-1024x768.jpg)
Lunchtime on the summit (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1072-1024x768.jpg)
The summit area started to get crowded and so we hiked down (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1074-4-768x1024.jpg)
The crew on the descent (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_1077-768x1024.jpg)
On the hike down (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1079-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley with the top of Dukes Nose in the background (Dec. 2023).
![Dukes Nose](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_1081-768x1024.jpg)
Back at the trailhead (Dec. 2023).
![Lonavala](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8563-1024x768.jpg)
Waiting for our ride to Mumbai the following morning (Dec. 2023).
![Lonavala](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8564-1024x768.jpg)
A friendly resident of the Lakeview Resort (Dec. 2023).
![Lonavala](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8566-1024x768.jpg)
A highway-side overlook of Dukes Nose (Dec. 2023).
![Lonavala](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8574-1024x768.jpg)
Punit at the overlook (Dec. 2023).
![Lonavala](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8580-1024x768.jpg)
An early morning view of Dukes Nose from an overlook (Dec. 2023).