- IMG 3027
There, in the distance, is the lovable pile of granite we like to call Hueco Tanks. - IMG 3028
Bryan carefully considers his oldest, greatest foe: Mushroom Roof. Five visits to Hueco Tanks, and he has never been able to top it out from the starting hold. From the start, he has made it to the lip, and from the second hold, he has topped it out, but never linked it in its entirety. - IMG 3029
Now, moving to Seattle, he knows he might not get the chance to challenge it again for a long while. So, despite the fact that he hasn't climbed much for two months, he carefully reviews the beta (specify hand/foot locations used) through the years. Here, he places his hands as they would be right after the crux. The large slab of flake at the bottom is the start, followed by the two chips above it and to the left. Next the left hand is thrown to where you see it here, and the right raised to prepare for the second throw. - IMG 3031
Here is the moment just after the second throw, right hand on a decent flake while the left is in a nice slot. All I had to do was pull the lip, but I fell. Oh well, it's nice to have something to come back for. - IMG 3040
Another attempt, just after the crux, moving into position for the second throw. Above the left hand you can see the slot used to anchor the body while the right reaches for the flake. - IMG 3041
Here, I attempt the throw from a lower hand. The flake is just out of frame at the top right. - IMG 3042
The theme for the day: falling at the lip throw. Here in the upper right you can clearly see my goal. It's tricky to hit it just at deadpoint and control it. Next time I will come better prepared, and Mushroom roof will fall. - IMG 3043
My civic becomes a surrogate tent. - P7230001
Here we are at Saguaro NP. In the distance you can see stick-like things that are the actual big-ass cactus from which the park gets its name. - P7230002
yet another shot of the side of bryan's head, which seem to show up in a lot of the album. here, though, the background contains saguaro cacti. - P7230003
Now, some actual cactus pictures. Boring, but compulsory. - P7230004
P7230004 - P7230005
P7230005