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Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP > Devils Crags > Climber's Log|
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| Bob Burd | NW Arete  Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2007 | |
| With Matthew and Jeff, a superb outing starting at South Lake. One of the highlights of the summer with two great companions. Trip Report | |
| Posted Oct 5, 2007 11:51 am | ||
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| Clydascope | Re: No. 1 - NW Arete | |
| Fair enough. I’ve been on many things that were much looser too. And yes, one’s mental attitude going into something of this nature has an affect as well. I may have been a little over expectant to find more solid rock, thereby being slightly disappointed by what I found. Perhaps my original comment should have been that I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. I am working on a TR that might help explain my situation a bit better. Stay tuned… | |
| Posted Sep 11, 2007 8:41 pm | ||
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| Matthew Holliman | Re: No. 1 - NW Arete | |
| Yeah, I'd climb it again (although it'll be on a backpacking trip next time). Frankly, I was intimidated (scared may be a more accurate word) by the peak's reputation before I climbed it, and was expecting a horrifically loose, exposed climb the whole way. But the quality of the rock was much better than I was expecting--in fact, other than a couple of moderately loose parts (some of the lighter rock on a couple of the walls at the notches was a bit unnerving), I thought it was generally quite good. It was better than, say, Table Mtn (which I just climbed on Sunday, and thought was worryingly loose in places)... maybe better than the North Arete on Matterhorn, which I remember being even looser for the first couple of pitches, or a bunch of the rock in the Palisades (Middle Pal, Norman Clyde, Disappointment come to mind). Perhaps it's just my perception since my expectation was so low... It was definitely worlds better than some of the choss I've climbed in Zion and the OR Cascades--a couple of scrambles in Zion have done a lot for my appreciation of even cruddy rock in the Sierra. :-) | |
| Posted Sep 11, 2007 7:07 pm | ||
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| Clydascope | Re: No. 1 - NW Arete | |
| As a peak it ranks very high on my list, but as a climb I thought the loose rock caused me too much stress to really enjoy it. There is a bumper sticker at my shop left by the previous tenants that says "Life's too Short... to climb bad ROCK!" That statement was running through my head during the entire climb. I asked myself "Would I go back and climb it again?" My answer is no. Would you? | |
| Posted Sep 11, 2007 11:45 am | ||
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| Matthew Holliman | Re: No. 1 - NW Arete | |
| You wouldn't recommend it? I'd have to rate this as one of the best peaks I've climbed in the Sierra--certainly in the top ten, if not top five. (In fact, offhand, I'm not sure if I can even think of a peak that I could unequivocally say is a "better" peak than DC #1.) | |
| Posted Sep 10, 2007 9:25 pm | ||
| Clydascope | No. 1 - NW Arete Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2007 | |
| Classic? Yeah Exposed? Whew Loose? Yup Out there? Big time Recommended? I don't know All weekend I praised and cursed you dayhikers! Unbelievable! | |
| Posted Sep 5, 2007 7:18 pm | ||
| Matthew Holliman | No. 1 - NW Arete Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2007 | |
| With Bob and Jeff, completed the first dayhike of this spectacular peak. The peak's reputation was intimidating beforehand, but the climbing turned out to be superb, and the rock far more solid than I'd feared. One of the most rewarding ascents I've done in the Sierra. Highly recommended. | |
| Posted Aug 21, 2007 2:50 am | ||
| Desert Solitaire | Hellbound to the lair of Hades Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2007 | |
| First dayhike of Devil's Crag #1 with Bob Burd and Matthew Holliman. As Secor mentions, this peak is truly "a classic climb with much exposure." This climb took just about all the tricks I had in my bag of alpine mountaineering skills to stay alive (negotiating loose rock, testing each hold, 3 pts of contact, and lots of heavy metal music coursing through my blood). Felt solid and comfortable throughout the whole climb. The worst part, for me, was ascending Rambaud Pass due to the loose talus on the steep chute. The NW Arete itself, however, featured fairly good rock, and this was one of my favorite class 3/4 climbs to date. Car to car time: 19 hours. Thanks to all previous ascentionists who provided valuable beta and inspiration. | |
| Posted Aug 16, 2007 1:12 pm | ||
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