Ascents in Lower Ampitheater

Loooved this. My fav crack climb so far!

Awesome little crack cooled by waterfall mist on a boiling day. Pose for the slack-jawed gawkers and maybe you'll get famous...

AKA Granny Crack? A fun corner route, well shaded and misted

Soooo close to the flash. Jug at the anchors was good. Didn't commit. Sigh. So fun though!

Soooo close to the flash. Jug at the anchors was good. Didn't commit. Sigh. So fun though!

First climb in the Valley. Beautiful climbing.

Fucking hard as shit!

Takes great gear.

I gave up in the chimney/stem section. I could probably have struggled up to the final mantel -- but not sure it was worth it to thrash through, and wasn't being fun.

Climbed up through the easy blocky section, cleaning placements as I went. Looked at the harder, thinner, section; wasn't sure feet were solid; would have needed to clean thin crack for hands & gear; decided to back off. Down-climbed cleaning my gear as I went.

Also takes great gear. A great little climb.

I found it harder than Lightweight Guides -- more sustained, fewer rests.

Some hard work, and some interesting changes of balance and technique as the climb goes.

Need to remember to step left around the corner about where there is a largish flat spot on the arete.

So lovely I came back later to lead it.

Found the thin section up top spicy for the grade. Maybe 10b/c?

Look photogenic, you'll have an audience on this!

Awesome fingerlocks, all you need heaps of medium wires

nice crack, beautiful setting