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Dark Angel.
We climbed another small tower in Arches NP called Dark Angel via its West Face route (2 pitches, 5.9+ C1). The highlight was the approach: very scenic and passing several arches. Shirley led pitch 1 but took a small fall at the crux and lowered off. Pitch 2 was mostly a bolt ladder if I recall.
Photos
Shirley starting the approach hike to Dark Angel from the Devil’s Garden parking area (Feb. 2006).
Landscape Arch as seen during the approach (Feb. 2006).
Approach hike scenery (Feb. 2006).
Another arch along the hike (Feb. 2006).
Approach hike (Feb. 2006).
Sandstone sidewalk (Feb. 2006).
First sighting of Dark Angel (far left; Feb. 2006).
Yet another arch (Feb. 2006).
Scenic (Feb. 2006).
Dark Angel (Feb. 2006).
Nearing our objective (Feb. 2006).
Shirley at the foot of Dark Angel (Feb. 2006).
Dark Angel (Feb. 2006).
The West Face route starts out of view on the right and climbs up to the obvious right facing notch. From there, it’s a free move or two followed by a bolt ladder to the summit (Feb. 2006).
Racking up (Feb. 2006).
Shirley at the base of the West Face route (Feb. 2006).
Shirley starting up the first pitch (Feb. 2006).
Higher on pitch 1 (Feb. 2006).
At the base of the crux (Feb. 2006).
Shirley about to give the crux a go (Feb. 2006).
Shirley did not like the look of it and so she lowered off and I finished the lead (Feb. 2006).
Shirley at the base of the route (Feb. 2006).
Shirley now following pitch 1 (Feb. 2006).
Views from the first belay (Feb. 2006).
Shirley nearing the first belay (Feb. 2006).
Starting pitch 2 (Feb. 2006).
Almost there (Feb. 2006).
Starting up the bolt ladder (Feb. 2006).
Looking back towards Shirley from above the crux (Feb. 2006).
Views from the first belay (Feb. 2006).
A wider angle view (Feb. 2006).
Shirley almost done with the bolt ladder on pitch 2 of the West Face route (Feb. 2006).
Views from summit (Feb. 2006).
And topping out on the summit (Feb. 2006).
Shirley on the summit with the entire West Face route visible (Feb. 2006).
Shirley rapping off (Feb. 2006).
Shirley rapping off of Dark Angel (Feb. 2006).
Packing sesh (Feb. 2006).
Shirley and Dark Angel (Feb. 2006).
Hiking out (Feb. 2006).
The La Sals from the return hike (Feb. 2006).
Shirley and Dark Angel (Feb. 2006).
An arch (Feb. 2006).
Another arch (Feb. 2006).
Almost back (Feb. 2006).
On the drive back, we saw some climber on the Zenyatta Entrada route on the Tower of Babel (Feb. 2006).
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