Crescent Moon Buttress – chossclimbers

Crescent Moon Buttress

Mexico

Go back to Mexico Road Trip.
Go back to Hidalgo.

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Crescent Moon Buttress — Crescent Moon Buttress.

Our first day in EPC greeted us with some hopelessly dark skies and incessant rain. For the hell of it, we drove out to Culo del Gato area west of the town of Mina. The skies were still dark but the drizzle was lighter. To kill time, we hiked up to the base of Crescent Moon Buttress (8-pitch 5.10-) and climbed its wet first pitch…for shits and giggles. Somehow, before we could realize the wet misery we were in, the climb was done, the Tyrolean traverse was enjoyed and we were back at the car laughing at having squeezed a very fun climb out of a shitty day.

Photos

Crescent Moon Buttress — Lucie, Shirley and Eric (he’s there) on the approach to the Crescent Moon Buttress (right skyline…see the crescent moon?) Culo de Gato. By the way, this here is the wrong way to do the approach (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Leading the first pitch of Crescent Moon Buttress belayed by Eric…kinda running with water the first two pitches (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Shirley on the first pitch of Crescent Moon Buttress. Eric and Lucie are below soaking up the desert sunshine (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Shirley on a short scramble into the first notch on Crescent Moon Buttress (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — The crux pitch of Crescent Moon Buttress. Rated 5.10a but it felt harder to me. Fortunately the difficulties were short lived (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Shirley on the crux of Crescent Moon Buttress. Photo by Eric Ponslet (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Shirley arriving at the upper notch on Crescent Moon Buttress (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Climbing out of the notch (pitch 7-ish) on Crescent Moon Buttress (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Looking at Eric belaying Lucie. The tyrolean traverse crosses this gap on the way down (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Shirley topping out on Crescent Moon Buttress (pitch 8-ish). This final pitch was the only one with a touch of friable rock (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Shirley on the tyrolean traverse with Eric and Lucie waiting their turn (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Shirley nearing the end of the tyrolean traverse. Photo courtesy of Eric Ponslet (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — More of Shirley on the tyrolean…how many times does one get to do one on a route? That is one uncomfortable hanging belay at the far end. Thanks again Eric for the great photos!

Crescent Moon Buttress — Lucie on the tyrolean traverse (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Hiking down from Crescent Moon Buttress – the ridge above (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Shirley and Lucie hiking down (the correct way this time) after our climb of Crescent Moon Buttress – the ridge viewed head on in the center of the face (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Wet fruits of the Nuevo Leon desert (Dec. 2013).

Crescent Moon Buttress — Packing up at the car for the ~45 minute drive back to El Potrero. Late afternoon weather cleared up pretty nicely (Dec. 2013).

Go to EPC Day 2.
Go back to Mexico Road Trip.