West Gulley - 5.6

This was great fun, but made for a very long day. We added 5 pitches or so of 5.6-ish stuff at the beginning by starting too far to the NW (we think) before we joined the "route" in the gully.

The descent we took was truly horrific.

Coming Soon...

What an epic adventure. We decided to do it at about 11:30am, after rummaging for potential sport/trad routes. We had very little food and water, but a lot of ambition and drive. We topped out right at dark, and made it back to the car about two hours later. We arrived home 3 hours late to find the police at my parents home, and Air Search and Rescue already looking for us. Topping out with my little brother, when all our fears of the seriousness of our situation had subsided, was the best feeling I have every had on any mountain. If you're going to climb it, be prepared, and get an early start!!!!

PS, technically it's the SOUTH side, but it will always be The West Gully.

My summit log on www.summitpost.com reads:
Wow, what an adventure. Our intention in the morning was not to do a significant amount of climbing, but rather scout out an area for new sport routes on a beautifull wall IN the West Gully... The day turned out much different, as the Gully was too inviting. We only got to the rock at 11:30, and suddenly decided we would climb it. 1000 feet. What the heck were we thinking. We brought our headlamps, (just in case), ate a bag of dry Top Ramen, and took a gallon of water. 6 hours later, after some fun scrambling, and climbing up to 5.8 on marginal pro and loose rock (we got of route on one occasion), we arrived at the summit! Before we left the summit it was dark, and the 2 hours of backcountry scrambling was enough to make me not want to go back... but I probably will! The next time, however, we will take a little more food, and leave quite a bit earlier! 8hrs and 15min car to car... and air and ground search and rescue out looking for two lost climbers!!!! (My parents were a little worried.) Somehow we managed to climb safely, and make it back, extremely hungy and sooooo tired.
Climb On!!!!!