Solutions to a Modern Alpine Environment.

Well Seftick and myself dug into the beartooths to finish the tower that Sheldon and I started last week. The ridge above proved to be excellent exposed climbing although easier than we were expecting.

The line of our 4 pitch ascent. The crux was surprisingly in the dihedral on the first pitch that I first climbed with Sheldon last week. The arete was 3 full 200ft rope pitches, and did steepen up, but big holds abound and gear opprotunities existed although not plentiful. 

Joel near the top of the easy second pitch with the steepening arete lurking above. I found a placed piton a few feet above this stance. 

The doctor (hey, he passed boards) coming up the easy but exposed ridge of the second pitch. 

Joel leading up the big question mark 3rd pitch. Was there holds and gear on this arete? Yes. Big holds and "good enough" gear. 

One week earlier Sheldon and I went up and did the first pitch in two shorter pitches. This and the photo below were taken on that day. Joel at the hanging belay inside the base of the dihedral second pitch.

Sheldon popping his head around the corner into the dihedral, deeply perplexed and puzzled by the mossy but not so chossy first pitch. 

Anya on her first day of lead climbing in Cody, WY.