Chasm Lake to the Diamond
|
I have never laid eyes upon her but am f@3#ckn stoked to get up on it (her?) in late July. May only have time for one route... |
|
Yellow Wall |
|
While D1 has what you want, don't discount Pervertical or Integral having what you need. This gal doesn't bend over easily, so don't expect her to drop her kit just at the sight of you. There are plenty of stories of suitors getting the slap-down. Be safe. |
|
MIYG wrote:one of those .11's ... straight up the middleThat narrows it down to D1. Get after it. |
|
Yellow Wall would be my pick for a first wall - great rock! |
|
Dusty, You're crazy, man. I like you, but you're crazy. |
|
+ 1 for D1. It is a proud line. There is a reason it has the number 1! |
|
Are people climbing on the Diamond right now, or is Broadway / N. Chimney sketchy still? |
|
Black dagger is a pretty damn good line that goes straight up the middle of the Yellow Wall area and has amazing climbing. For consistent quality of climbing it's probably the best I've done up there. The Obelisk column routes may have the best individual pitches but not quite as good down low. |
|
I'm planning on Bivy'n at Chasm lake and hiking up to the diamond. Is there anything I need to know? Any unknown obstacles waiting to thwart my aspirations? |
|
Be sure you take the North Chimney and not Fields. A common mistake that can significantly change the character of the approach. |
|
Something to keep in mind. You need a bivy permit unless you do car to car. Also the weather can be very interesting and move in fast. Be prepared. |
|
Princess Mia wrote: Also the weather can be very interesting and move in fast. Be prepared.And so far this week it has been interesting. |
|
Thanks for the heads up. I have a bivy permit and have printed some pics of the N. Chimney. We may end up doing Directissima if weather looks to be a factor, but I'm making this drive to do the DIAMOND (well, and to listen to some bluegrass) |
|
Good luck, and cross your fingers on the weather. When we went to try the Casual Route on the Diamond a few years back everyone said the weather "was like clockwork", that a large thunderstorm would start "at 2pm" every day. The forecast seemed to corroborate this, as it said 20% chance of rain after noon. We figured no problem, we slept at Chasm View, rapped in to Broadway by headlamp, and planned to climb fast (most pitches on Casual are supposed to be easy) and be long gone from the top at 2pm. Clockwork my ass! The skies unloaded with rain and lightning starting at 6:30am! We bailed after pitch one, but since our stuff was at Chasm View we had to climb several pitches of somewhat loose 5.6 or 5.7 sideways in the rain to get back up to the boulder field that led to our stuff. |
|
I can't stress it enough...... The Diamond is not just a big wall, it is high altitude climbing. |
|
Dude! You seem like you're still looking for beta.....you should just push back the climb till later in the week ; Head over to Neptune's.....Gary is giving a thorough presentation on "Diamond Routes/ tips and tricks". |
|
Good luck! Consider yourself extremely lucky to get up your first time without any sort of minor epic. The Diamond is no joke, and while you might be a solid .11 or .12 climber at a lower elevation, it'll lay you out at 13,000+ feet. Don't scoff at the Casual. It's a great route, a serious undertaking, and there are even easier routes on Chasm View wall that would be better introductions to high altitude alpine climbing. |
|
Thanks Tony, great story. |