Ross and I found this rap station but it wasn't right.
This is four pitches of high quality climbing on really great rock. It's the best rock quality I've seen sustained on a route of this length in the Sandias.
Micah on pitch 1. He was going to lead it but we got the ropes stuck in a crack so he top-rope soloed for his first time. An entertaining 5.8.
Pitch 2 is rated 5.11c depending where you look. I thought it was sustained and engaging for the grade. All bolts but they are not so close that you never think about it.
Getting into the bidness.
Micah follows
Look how that trailing rope dangles. This pitch stays steep.
Micah prepares for the sting in the tail final crux before the belay.
Pitch 3 is pure fun. Some weirdness off the belay then a big roof at the top, a series of several overhanging moves with chimney and knee bar rests in the mix.
In the chimney rest.
Micah follows.
Micah leads the final 5.8 pitch to the top. Usually 5.8 pitches to the top in the Sandias feature some questionable rock but not here.
We had some coffee at the top before the long (for the Sandias) hike back to the crest parking lot.
What a fall day in the Sandias! The shady aspects have snow all along the crest and in the gullies. Yeah.
