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. 

Crisco Disco

Just an update here as I see it's been a while and with good reason.

1. Took a small climbing break after the tetons
2. I am in the middle of shopping for a house.
3. I was beaten out for a house because I was at a softball game and missed the offer window by 15 minutes. (let the jokes begin)
4. I hit the game winning home run at the above softball game.
5. My climbing parter took a 15 foot fall onto a ledge and banged up his ankle on our 3rd pitch of some huge rock wall in the mountains.
6. The above provided some excitement in getting down.
7. I cut some hairs.
8. OK, I had a lot of hairs cut.
9. I've been working at CTA for more than a year now, and I still like my job.
10. It's freaking hot here.

till more......

The Grand, Owen, and Teewinot from our cabin at the American Alpine Club Climbers's Ranch. 

Disapointment Peak (11,600 feet) and it's spoon couloir dropping down to Amphitheater Lake which Mr. Seftick skied on July 4th.

Anya and Jeff on the summit rock ridge. 

The Rookie thinking going down the spoon might be just as hard as going up. 

Jeff about to pancake on one of the Jenny Lake campground boulders. 

The north face of Middle Teton from the Grand. 

Jeff and Anya heading towards the southwest couloir and summit of Middle Teton, 12,804 feet. 

The Grand Teton from camp at the lower saddle. 

Yes Joel, that's a tensile structure. Camp at 11,600 feet. 

Jeff in the coulior between the upper and lower saddle with Middle Teton looking on. 

Jeff. Anya, and Seftick, chugging to the upper saddle. 

LE GUIDE DE HAUTE MONTAGNE. Joel at the second belay on the Owen-Spalding. - "Now just go climb that mixed chimney over there and you're summit bound."

Dicey mixed climbing over with, Anya sets the controls for the heart of the summit on the final snowfield. 

Joel on the last steps to the summit. 

VIVA LA SUMMIT. Joel and Anya as sitting royalty of the Tetons at 13,770 feet.

Joel getting to the good climbing, starting up the second pitch of Baxter's Pinnacle, Tetons, July 3rd 2005. 

College Boy topping out the ridge on the third pitch of Baxter's Pinnacle. 

The Doctor pulling summit holds on Baxter's Pinnacle above Jenny Lake in the Tetons, July 3rd.