Ascent Notes for: Layback - 5.5 popular Average Rating : 3.86/5

Maybe we were tired? The chimney is a pain in the ass. I obviously need to learn some chimney technique. Five stars for P2...it's a hoot.

Back to my element!

to be fair the rock was wet when I climbed this so my experience was likely tainted by this fact. it felt difficult in a not fun way.

Burly chimney; fun and easy 2nd pitch.

Did P1 only. Another good Fritz route..

~

The first time I climbed it, I was afraid of the climb and climbed the chimney instead of straight up, not the way to do it.

Followed Peter B on p1, led p2

My first lead in the Gunks, and likely my 2nd lead ever.
The off-width chimney was burley (later, I learned from a local to do the left face variation, it's probably about 5.8 or 5.9 but beats the chimney).
I must have paused 10 minutes before committing to the layback (my first ever), having no large gear. In fact, back in those days, I had 3 cams and a set of small nuts. It made leading much more exciting.

It was thundering, starting to rain and I just wanted to finish and get into my car. We finished up, John lost his belay device (it evaporated into thin air) and we called it a day. I nearly got hit by a car (saw my life flash in front of my eyes) as I crossed 44 at the steel bridge. I will never cross the road again, I will go up and over. I am still shaking as I write this.