How many times have you been up the Diamond?

Ethan Gutmann wrote:...there were at least 7 groups up there (pervertical, curving vine, D7, yellow wall, casual route x3), not to mention folk on chasm view wall and others.

Yeah, it was crazy busy yesterday up there! Good thing the weather held out as many of the parties weren't off until late (including us on Red Wall).

I'm 0 so far on the Diamond but hope to change that soon.

9 times
1-D1
1-Casual
1-yellow wall,including headwall pitches
2-black dagger
2-D7
2-Pervertical

Black Dagger was by far my favourite,good steep climbing with a cool finish. I would still like to do the Oblisk, but seems like it can be awful crowded up there lately

Ethan Gutmann wrote: I would debate that, I just came back from D7, and, aside from waiting several hours for a party ahead of us to rappel, several cracks were still wet, and there were at least 7 groups up there (pervertical, curving vine, D7, yellow wall, casual route x3), not to mention folk on chasm view wall and others. Mind you, the weather was gorgeous, and the climbing was fun.

Ethan, we were the guys trying a direct finish to Curving Vine. Mostly cleaning massive ammounts of lichen and moss. For the rap, next time just rap back down D7, there are independant anchors you can use with the only bottleneck being the anchors above crossover ( base of D7 Var). The weather was splitter yesterday, July always seems better than August for weather.

Yesterday was 23 for me on the big D.

(edit: Eric, you have to do Ariana....easier than D7 in my opinion and one of the best lines on the wall. Also would highly recomend Curving Vine, with 4 pitches of 5.10+/5.11- it is one of the more sustained lines on the yellow wall side.)

11 or 12:

4X Casual
3X Pervertical
1X Ariana
1X Yellow Wall easy var.
1X "Komito Freeway"
1X Curving Vine + PV
1X D7 but rapped before last pitch in freezing temps (after aiding crux)

(16XN.Chimney...ugghh)

Grab your camera, Kateri. This is definitely a shirt-off thread! :)

'Cept for me...I've been a sporadic weekend gumby for years and haven't made the trip. I'm getting back out and hope to change that soon.

Nate Oakes wrote:Hank, have you ever jumped off the top of the Diamond?

That I know of, only 1 or 2 people have ever jumped the Diamond proper and neither of them was me. Chasm View has been jumped more often, but since it's a National Park and a bust would be really bad. RMNP isn't a very active as a BASE destination.

Only twice, so far. D1 in 94 when I was carried in and out much of the way (paralytic Polio, Post Polio Syndrome, a long litany of horrendous injuries additionally, including some in 91 that left me barely able to walk for years). Hiked in and out with my poles last year and cleaned Pervertical Sanctuary. Planning on doing it again on the second of Aug. cannot wait to get back up there!

Cheers! Wayne

I just finished #41, so all is right in the world again. I'm 41 years old, and am trying to stay young by making sure (# of Diamond climbs) ≥ (current age). Problem is, it's getting harder every year, and if I don't drag my butt up it again this summer, come January '09 (birthday), I'll be behind the eight-ball once more, and back to feeling old.

The good news: I'm scheduled to do two more trips in the coming weeks, so (assuming we make it to the top) I'll have a nice two-year cushion where I can sit around and just look up at the Diamond, rather than feeling compelled to go climb it again. I guess if I live to be 100, I'll make it to 100 with this plan (man, those last 20 are going to be hard, though I like Wayne's approach: anyone want to carry me and my gear to Broadway from 2047 through 2067?)

Did I just take my shirt off with this post? Damn, that's ugly... Better put it back on while no one is looking (or before Roger logs on and embarrasses all of us. He's 57 or so, and still climbs strong up there: amazing. And he looks pretty good with his shirt off --not that there's anything wrong with that).

Thanks alot Bernard, now I feel woefully inadequete. I turn 43 in August and I just logged #10 last weekend. That means I have to get my butt up the wall 33 more times this season alone. I'll be ready to take my shirt off if that happens!

Hey Jeff - congrats on reaching double digits! That's a righteous milestone in anyone's book.

I do hope your birthday is in late August. Otherwise you'll being doing two-a-days (look to the Broncos for inspiration if you've drawn the unlucky card of being born early in the month). See you up there. Or not -- this couch is feeling pretty comfortable at 41, and my feet still hurt.

1/3. hope to better my record this weekend with erik wellborn. I guess that would make double digits for him. Lucky!!

I have way to far to go to even come close to doing my age but I still love the wall,

2 early ascents; 1 - D7 (1972)
1 - Jack of Diamonds (1973)

more recently with my daughter,
1 - Casual
1 - Pervertical
and an almost ran on Yellow Wall/Forrest Finish

I think to be honest I'd have to say 0.3!