Dihedral Wall attempt.In spring of 2009, we got a call from Brad with the idea of meeting up in the Valley to do a wall. Brad and his crew would do something while Shirley and I tried something else. We’d have the pre and post drinking time together. Well, the week of our meet-up the weather turned shitty and we spent a couple of days waiting things out – bored and damp. Finally, weather started clearing up. Shirley and I decided to give Dihedral Wall a go given it’s clean-looking hauling potential. We fixed the first two pitches on a marginal afternoon and then came back the next day and led up to the top of pitch 5. I recall engaging but doable and not too scary, clean aid (with a small fall or two). By the time we topped out on pitch 5, the drip that we have been experiencing throughout the day turned into a waterfall. We struggled to set up the portaledge hanging from the two closely spaced belay bolts on the slab of P5 and then threw the fly over the set up. We endured a cold and wet night and bailed the following morning. If we ever go back, we’ll haul the ledge flagged on this one. Next day, we tucked tail and drove south to the sunny walls of Zion.
Photos
Brad and Matt killing rainy time in Curry Village (May 2009).Killing the rainy days with the crew: (L2R) Matt, Brad, and Ben (May 2009).On the way up. Shirley slogging with her haulbag (May 2009).Looking up at the moist wall from atop pitch 1 of Dihedral Wall (May 2009).Shirley jugging up a wet pitch 1 (May 2009).Shirley on pitch 1 (May 2009).Central Pillar Of Frenzy on Middle Cathedral Rock from low on Dihedral Wall (May 2009).Starting up pitch 2 of Dihedral Wall (May 2009).Pitch 2 (May 2009).Nearing the top of pitch 2 (May 2009).Almost there (May 2009).Upper wall looking moist (May 2009).Shirley starting up pitch 2 of Dihedral Wall (May 2009).Shirley jugging up pitch 2 (May 2009).More of Shirley on pitch 2 (May 2009).Shirley on pitch 2 (May 2009).Pitch 2 (May 2009).Middle Cathedral Rock from pitch 2 of Dihedral Wall (May 2009).Starting up pitch 3 (May 2009).Higher on pitch 3 of Dihedral Wall (May 2009).Pitch 3 (May 2009).Pitch 3 (May 2009).Pitch 3. Look at that cool geology (May 2009).Shirley starting up pitch 3 (May 2009).Shirley and the pig on pitch 3 (May 2009).Shirley jugging pitch 3 (May 2009).Pitch 3 (May 2009).Pitch 3 (May 2009).Topping out on pitch 3 (May 2009).Pitch 3 (May 2009).Starting up pitch 4 (May 2009).Pitch 4 (May 2009).Pitch 4. Think it was somewhere on this pitch that a cam hooked popped with me on it (May 2009).Pitch 4 (May 2009).Pitch 4 (May 2009).Pitch 4 (May 2009).Middle Cathedral Rock in afternoon sunlight (May 2009).Pitch 4 (May 2009).Pitch 4 (May 2009).Pitch 4 (May 2009).Shirley topping out on pitch 4 of Dihedral Wall (May 2009).Starting up pitch 5 of Dihedral Wall (May 2009).More pitch 5 (May 2009).Shirley starting up pitch 5 of Dihedral Wall (May 2009).Shirley on pitch 5 of Dihedral Wall (May 2009).Pitch 5 (May 2009).Pitch 5 (May 2009.Sitting out a wet night on a less-than-perfectly pitched fly over our portaledge (May 2009).In the morning back at base (May 2009).
