Yesterday Ryan and I went to the top of Mt. Lemmon to do the Bender Axen start and the Standard Route on Rapp Rock. Here is Ryan fueling up before we made our way via bushwhack to the route.
If you look closely you might be able to make out Ryan bushwhacking his way through a new stand of Aspens on the way to the route. This area was burned a few years ago, and the little Aspens are taking over. We were hiking in flip flops. We left our shoes at the top because we didn't want to have to climb with them clipped to our harnesses.
Ryan won at Rochambeau so he got to lead the Bender Axen 5.8 pitch. I was a little jealous, but the second pitch turned out to be as good. We had to do a variation of the Standard Route because another party of five was climbing ahead of us and were really slow. We just moved over a few feet and made our own way.
Ryan set up this belay at the top of the third pitch. I was getting a little concerned because he was running out of rope and had only stopped to place protection a few times. When I climbed up to him I realized why. It was a 5.7 chicken head hike.......................
and that is a chicken head. A hold so good it is almost impossible to fall off of, and that is how to protect one. I ended up leading the last pitch. 180 feet protected by three pieces. The climbing really was that easy, but it was some of the most fun I have ever done.
Yesterday Ryan and I went to the top of Mt. Lemmon to do the Bender Axen start and the Standard Route on Rapp Rock. Here is Ryan fueling up before we made our way via bushwhack to the route.
If you look closely you might be able to make out Ryan bushwhacking his way through a new stand of Aspens on the way to the route. This area was burned a few years ago, and the little Aspens are taking over. We were hiking in flip flops. We left our shoes at the top because we didn't want to have to climb with them clipped to our harnesses.
Ryan won at Rochambeau so he got to lead the Bender Axen 5.8 pitch. I was a little jealous, but the second pitch turned out to be as good. We had to do a variation of the Standard Route because another party of five was climbing ahead of us and were really slow. We just moved over a few feet and made our own way.
Ryan set up this belay at the top of the third pitch. I was getting a little concerned because he was running out of rope and had only stopped to place protection a few times. When I climbed up to him I realized why. It was a 5.7 chicken head hike.......................
and that is a chicken head. A hold so good it is almost impossible to fall off of, and that is how to protect one. I ended up leading the last pitch. 180 feet protected by three pieces. The climbing really was that easy, but it was some of the most fun I have ever done. 
3 comments:
That was a great day.
Great climb!
Kent
Looks like fun.
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