Alan leads the first class-5 pitch of the lower North Ridge (east variation/start). The tree provides a very fine view. Rest well there because the arcing offwidth (right side of shadow) is very off with a backpack. There were 4 climbers about a pitch ahead of us (all approached via basecamp at the head of Mountaineers Creek). The slower pair descended with a foot injury after the 2nd pitch; we never saw the faster pair again! Taken September, 2001, about 9am.