Some photos

PanShiBo

2017.03.14 Amerika Spring Break 2017 (contd.)

Day 3 Elephant Butte - West Fins route (YDS 5.4); Arches National Park, Utah

Usually the most technical climbing is not recorded for obvious reasons: other things have higher priority. This was the case in this trip - while I was contemplating which way to take above that exposed slab, Vera went up "just take a look"..in no time she was above me climbing YDS 5.4 grade unprotected rock - without knowing, she just completed the crux of the route in the "regular" MEC hiking shoes! 8)





California Climbers' Salute at the top of Elephant Butte, the highest point in the Arches National Park, Utah.


Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.14 Amerika Spring Break 2017 (contd.)

Day 3 Elephant Butte - West Fins route (YDS 5.4); Arches National Park, Utah

At the summit of Elephant Butte, Arches NP, Utah


La Sal mountains at the back


Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.14 Amerika Spring Break 2017 (contd.)

Day 3 Elephant Butte - West Fins route (YDS 5.4); Arches National Park, Utah

Descent. A rather exotic suggestion to toss the pack with the gear down this class 4 section was rejected and more traditional method was agreed upon, lowering it down that is. 8)


Class 4 rock...better not to be downclimbed like this..unless you have somebody down there with bigger body mass to stop your fall..(if you get stuck not being able to keep climbing down, it would be very hard to climb back up from this position)


Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.14 Amerika Spring Break 2017 (contd.)

Day 3 Elephant Butte - West Fins route (YDS 5.4); Arches National Park, Utah

Somewhere there is the second rappel station, which is the only practical way to get back. In this maize of hoodoos it is easy to get confused which way to go, but Vera did amazing homework, so we located it precisely!





Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

棉花糖
我们没有攀岩，但是那个大象背，我们好像沿着正常的trail上去了——如果我没有搞错的话（请山花和Windy出来纠错） :lol:

! 8)

PanShiBo

Elephant Butte - contd.

2nd rappel is an exciting free-air 8)










Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

Elephant Butte - contd.

That's how Balanced Rock looks like from the top of Elephant Butte


back on the flat ground


this route is on our "must be done again" list 8)


blue skies of Utah


Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

Elephant Butte - contd.

West Fins route that we climbed. Not precise as GPS reception in canyons is not accurate.

Distance: 2.75 km
Elevation gain: 370 m
Rating: YDS 5.4



Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

Elephant Butte - contd.

Two last shots of Arches NP




Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.14 Aztec Butte, Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Technical routes are never marked at the trailheads or on government-issued park maps, I suppose in order to avoid confusing "regular" folks. After climbing "unofficial" Elephant Butte West Wins route we went for a hike on a class 1 well maintained tourist trail. Sweet and short - the sign at the parking warned about steep ledge about 3 feet high.

Aztec Butte is one of the more unique hikes in the Island in the Sky region of Canyonlands National Park. The trail crosses level grasslands and climbs a steep slope to a dome-shaped butte rising above the mesa.

https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/aztec-butte-canyonlands-hike/





California Climbers' Salute at the top of Aztec Butte, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.


Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.14 In Canyonlands National Park, Utah








Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

Nice number: Elephant Butte was the 125th peak that Vera and I climbed together... 8)

PHOTO: at the top of the first rappel (West Fins route), with Elephant Butte at the back



Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.15 Capitol Reef National Park, Utah - Navajo Knobs (class 4)

Navajo Knobs can be seen from the Visitor Center, if you know where to look 8)





In the past I used to do all the research of our routes. Thanks to Vera, now I only get GPS tracks and she supplies all the critical points such as cruxes, fork points, technical grades etc. ( such as turn left off that tower, or the route is one-way only, or it takes 10 hours to climb a 2km  distance, or a good video on Youtube). She is so much better than me - this stuff gives me headaches..not anymore! 8)




Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.15 Capitol Reef National Park, Utah - Navajo Knobs (class 4)  - contd.





Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.15 Capitol Reef National Park, Utah - Navajo Knobs (class 4) - contd.

The summit of the highest knob was too tight to stand on, so CCS was taken nearby.

PanShiBo

2017.03.15 Capitol Reef National Park, Utah - Navajo Knobs (class 4) - contd.

Distance: 14.5 km
Elevation Gain: 870 m
YDS: class 4




Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.16 Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah







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PanShiBo

2017.03.16 Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

The highest peak that we climbed in March of year 2015 was Mt. Whitney, CA (Mountaineer's Route) and in March of 2016 it was Mt. Shasta. This year it was Rainbow Point in Bryce Canyon: as opposed to those "difficult" peaks in the past two years, we took zero pains - just drove the car right there, and walked 30 meters..8)

(sure we climbed "tough" peaks in March 2017, but those were not the tallest, in fact one of them was one of the lowest ever - Manly Beacon (244m) in Death Valley, CA)

California Climbers' Salute at the Rainbow Point, the highest point in Bryce Canyon NP, Utah


Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.16 Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (contd.)







Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167

PanShiBo

2017.03.15 Capitol Reef National Park, Utah - Navajo Knobs (class 4)

At the top of Navajo Knob #1


Navajo Knob #1


Summary: https://www.crossna.org/forum.ph ... post&pid=177167