Topped Out

Today we motivated early and Nate set the pace by blasting up the Mark of Zorro - a Z shaped zig zag roof.

Later he left all but a free rack and some hooks and busted out some free climbing on the pitch to peanut ledge.

I led the pitch off Peanut Ledge by leap frogging 4 & 4.5 camalots for 80 feet then traversing under an improbable looking roof. Definetly DFU.

Leading the last pitch in the dark was extremely relaxing. The night air was cool, the moon full, and the top only 90 feet away.

We're bivied on top and will do the East Ledges raps tomorrow. Our gear is pretty much right where we dumped it after topping out. The best part was taking off our harnesses but we both get occasional vertigo if we move to fast. On the wall, that feeling would normally indicate air time.

Above: Nate leading the Mark of Zorro: Pitch 11.

Above: Me starting pitch 12. Devil's Brow is out right.

Above: Me higher on Pitch 12.

Above: Hooking off the belay: Pitch 13.

Above: Looking East.

Above: Nate hitting the belay at Peanut Ledge, pitch 13.

Above: Hauling and cleaning pitch 13.