EPC 2.1

Go back to El Potrero Chico Again.

Excalibur

Excalibur.


This time we only had four days – one day too few as it turned out. We climbed a handful of classic Potrero beauties (as well as a new line) but failed on our Time Wave Zero goal as drizzle greeted us on the morning of our final (d-) day. The two highlights were Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (7P, 10c) and Black Cat Bone (9P, 10d). The new Excalibur route (6P, 10c) on the front side was alright as was the uneven Super Nova – 8 pitches long and with the grade setting first pitch (5.11a) but essentially 5.6 above with singular moves of 5.9. Nicely framed views from that one however and as a bonus we realized that we no longer have interest in doing Weiss Cracks next door – overgrown and not too aesthetic looking.

Photos

El Potrero Chico

Shirley’s solution to dealing with the red eye fatigue in Atlanta (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Nuevo Leon as we approach Monterrey (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Shirley making sure she understood Ed’s intricate beta for a pitch she wants to lead (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Picking up a few essentials at the MiniSuper in Hidalgo (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Our cozy casita…20+ avocados in 4 days…pretty avocadoed out for a while (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Views from the casita (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Good morning again Potrero (chilly Potrero on the first morning anyway; Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Starting up Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Shirley on pitch 1 (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Shirley leading pitch 2 of Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Views into the Potrero from low on Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Shirley higher on pitch 2 (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Following pitch 2 of Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Shirley on the very fun (including crack climbing no less) pitch 3 of Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

View towards the Spires (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Topping out on pitch 3 (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Shirley starting up pitch 4 of Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 20130.

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Views from high on Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Topping out on pitch 4 (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Leading the 5th pitch of the Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Shirley following pitch 5 (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Almost at the 5th belay (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Shirley leading pitch 6 of Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Shirley on pitch 6 (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

On pitch 6 (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Views of Hidalgo from atop Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Shirley topping out on Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Shirley atop the Treasure Of The Sierra Madre route with the Timewave Zero formation in the background (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

Jungle Wall from the top of the Treasure Of The Sierra Madre route. Can you name the cleaned streaks? El Bobo (squat) spire is on the right (Feb. 2013).

Treasure Of The Sierra Madre

An unknown party on the Space Boyz route – this is the crux pitch 6 I think. Taken from the top of the Treasure Of The Sierra Madre route (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Shirley near the base of TWZ admiring the formations. From Las Estrellas (far left) to Sense Of Religion on the right (with its series of mid-sized classics incl. Snot Girlz, Pancho Villa Rides Again, and Treasure Of The Sierra Madre; Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Jungle Wall with parties on Space Boyz (left) and the crux pitch of Black Cat Bone (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Unknown party on the crux 6th pitch of Black Cat Bone on the Jungle Wall. In fact the leader is at THE crux of the route – a series of thin face moves leading the roof (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Heading back to the casita (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

At the casita (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Heading back for more (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Getting ready for Black Cat Bone at the base of Jungle Wall (a great route!).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley leading pitch 1 of Black Cat Bone on the Jungle Wall (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Starting up pitch 2 of Black Cat Bone (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley topping out on pitch 3 of Black Cat Bone which I think we combined with pitch 2 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley taking us up onto the Garden Of Bleedin (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Dope Ninja ridge (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley starting the lead of pitch 5 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley leading the 5th pitch of Black Cat Bone (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

More of Shirley on pitch 5 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Leading the crux pitch (#6) of Black Cat Bone (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley starting up the crux pitch 6 of Black Cat Bone (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Pitch 6 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

More of Shirley on pitch 6 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Pitch 6 with the Garden Of Bleedin below (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Pitch 6 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley topping out on pitch 6 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Las Estrellas formation (right with palm tree on top) and the town of Hidalgo beyond as seen from high on Black Cat Bone (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley on pitch 7 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Views from high up on Black Cat Bone with some native vegetation in the foreground (thank Ed for the clean up job on the routes!!).

Black Cat Bone

More pitch 7 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley topping out on pitch 7 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley at the 7th belay on Black Cat Bone (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley topping out on pitch 8 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley leading the 9th and final pitch of Black Cat Bone and rocking her Mazama shirt (circa 2004??).

Black Cat Bone

Pitch 9 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

And pitch 9 (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Hidalgo from the top of Black Cat Bone (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Shirley at the 9th and final belay of Black Cat Bone (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

The odd collection of stuff found inside the summit register can atop the Black Cat Bone route (Feb. 2013).

Black Cat Bone

Unknown party (well sort of…one of the guys is a PDX expat apparently) on Space Boyz. Photo taken from Black Cat Bone next door (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

Admiring the front side of the El Potrero Chico formations – the name of the massif is El Torro. Shirley is pointing out the Excalibur route on the foreground ridge (Feb. 2013).

El Potrero Chico

A typical day at EPC would start at the crags and finish off on the doorsteps of our casita eating home-made guac with tortillas, drinking Cartas and watching the street…pretty white trash style but shitloads of fun (Feb. 2013).

Go to EPC 2.2.
Go back to El Potrero Chico Again.