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Slideshow (619 photos)

New guidebook for the Adirondack Park

The Fire Spire: Colin follows the first pitch, belayed from above by Tom, just before a major storm hit

The Fire Spire: Tommy and Colin gearing up at the base of the spire

The Fire Spire: Tom leading the first pitch of the spire

The Touareg in use -- early morning at the camp spot in Beaver Creek

The Eye of the Needle formation, just right of center

Batteries Not Included: Belaying Tommy on P1, enjoying the first sun in days (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Batteries Not Included: Rappelling through the "eye" of the needle at the top of Batteries Not Included (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Batteries Not Included: Rappelling through the "eye" of the needle at the top of Batteries Not Included (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Batteries Not Included: Gearing up at the base of the route

Fording the stream to get to the Eye of the Needle formation; very cold

Batteries Not Included: Tom leading P1, slightly off route. The "eye" after which the formation is named is visible above him.

Batteries Not Included: Colin and Tommy at the belay in front of the "eye"

Batteries Not Included: Colin follows P1 of Batteries Not Included; crisp limestone

Batteries Not Included: Colin follows P1 of Batteries Not Included; crisp limestone

Batteries Not Included: Colin rappels through the "eye"

The Eye of the Needle formation

The Ben as seen from the CIC hut (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Climbers gearing up at the CIC hut; Jim is the tall one in the orange top (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

On the approach to the CIC hut (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

The Ben, as seen from about half way on the approach. Too bad you can't drive up this far. (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

The Ben as seeon from the approach (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Gear explosion in our tiny room above a pub in Fort William (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Pretty river on the Ben (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Lots of routes here - the Buachaille Etive Mor (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Lots of routes here - the Buachaille Etive Mor (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Descending the Ben toward the Red Burn area

Point Five Gully: Eric in a mess of ropes after topping out

Point Five Gully: Standing on the summit plateau after topping out

Point Five Gully: A view of Point Five Gully on the approach. The route follows the obvious deep gully on the left.

Point Five Gully: Jim on the steep snow fields on the approach to the base of the route. Our ascent was the first for the year, so we were breaking trail. (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Point Five Gully: Leading the first pitch, which was a friable crust over rock (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Point Five Gully: Unknown Italian climbers attempting to pass (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Point Five Gully: Self portrait of Eric, cold and unhappy, but loving life (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Point Five Gully: The final belay before topping out (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Point Five Gully: Breaking through the cornice onto the flat summit plateau (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Point Five Gully: White out on the summit; Jim is the tall person on the right (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Point Five Gully: Eric standing next to the emergency shelter (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Descending off the summit through intermetent white out (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Descending from the col back into the valley (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Descending from the col back into the valley (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Descending from the col back into the valley (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

View of the Ben while descending from the summit (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

View of the Ben while descending from the summit (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Approaching the CIC hut after the descent; things starting to clear up (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

A view of the mountains on the drive up from Glasgow (Copyright © Eric Gregory)

Inconceivable: Avoiding the snow in the high country, we retreated to Blacktail Butte and climbed a couple routes (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Inconceivable: Steep, polished limestone at Blacktail Butte (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Rocks littering the field near our camp site

Our camp spot next to large boulders. Too bad there's ticks.

Cows graze nearby our camp site

Scoping out the topouts of the routes on Elk Rock (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Rock hoping around the top of Elk Rock

Colin on top of large boulder

Awesome views off the back side of Elk Rock

Book of Payne: Tommy climbs the excellent corner crack on the Jedi Wall

Unknown: Good, well protected climbing at the "top rope area"; at least it's out of the wind. (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

The Road Goes On Forever: Super fun climbing on a freezing cold day (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

The Road Goes On Forever: Super fun climbing on a freezing cold day (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

The Road Goes On Forever: Super fun climbing on a freezing cold day (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

The Road Goes On Forever: Super fun climbing on a freezing cold day (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

The Road Goes On Forever: Super fun climbing on a freezing cold day (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

The Road Goes On Forever: Super fun climbing on a freezing cold day (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Rat King: Big buckets on steep rock, but piggin' cold (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Rat King: Big buckets on steep rock, but piggin' cold (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

The private climbing gym at the alpine school; an awesome place to spend a snowy afternoon

Mike and Laurv in Servoz where we stayed

Crappy photo of Mt. Blanc, the only view of the mountain we had during our 2-week trip

On our last day, the sky cleared enough for us to see the surrounding peaks

The alpinism school in Chamonix

The headquarters for all that is alpine

We climbed this route despite that it was falling apart around us

The busy ski town of Cormeyeur; very pretty, but very busy

A helicopter lowers a person to the ridge during training exercises

Danger sign at the top of the cliff

Jet Stream: Eric traversing left to the belay at the top of P1

Tommy happy out on the range

Tommy's new project -- a 10x20 barn

Entry way sign welcoming Nona, his wife

Colin trying to look all buff and stuff

Inside of the Mother Ship

Another view inside the Mother Ship

Awesome Montana sky

Overview of Tommy's compound

Reading the register on the summit.

Awesome Devil's Tower

Awesome Devil's Tower

Awesome Devil's Tower

Getting up early to hit the Tower

Cool camp setup, perfect because it rained every day for 3 weeks

Solar: Leaving the P1 belay and starting up P2

Solar: Excellent corner jamming on P2

Solar: Finally, a break in the jamming

Reading the guidebook, scoping out routes (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Tulgey Wood: At the top of the first pitch (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

El Matador: Climbers on the famous P2 of El Matador. The woman following was barely able to make the stem.

El Matador: Climbers on the famous P2 of El Matador. The woman following was barely able to make the stem.

Colin at the top of P1 of El Matador. We decided to bail here.

By the end of the trip, Rayko's tips were bleeding

Ring for protection and belays

A route book; every tower has one of these

An open route book

Standing in front of the second Bergsport Arnold store, this one in Bad Schandau

Trolly car ferries tourists from Bad Schandau up the valley to the trailheads

Twin towers; we climbed the tower on the left

Unknown climber peering down from the top of a neighboring tower

Climbers dot the various towers in the Bielatal region

Climbers dot the various towers in the Bielatal region

Giant rappel rings; the flat spot on the top is so that you can clip a caribiner to it

Nordwestweg: Bomber thread

A climber on a difficult route (you can just make out his red pants on the upper left side)

The amazing Frienstein; we climbed on the neighboring formation

Nordwand: At the belay after a terrifying lead, the scariest of the trip (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Nordwand: Roping up for what turned out to be the scariest lead of the trip (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Nordwand: Rayko attempts the second pitch, but is off route on a 5.10c

Nordwand: Folling the first pitch, which had cracks, but no gear (if ONLY I had a cam)

Südwand: Approaching the belay at the end of the first pitch; notice the furry runner around the large flake (the furrier the better) (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Goldsteigkante: Topping out on the second pitch (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Belaying from the top of another tower (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Goldsteigkante: The start of the route involved very pocketed rock with good pro (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Goldsteigkante: Moving through the super featured rock on the first pitch (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Südwand: Looking back at the second pitch, a traversing affair with many tied off flakes and threads

Südwand: Starting up the second pitch -- a bit of a run after the first bolt (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Wahnsinnsverschneidung: A jammed knot before the real difficulties; Rayko rappelled from this one (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Goldsteigkante: Following the first pitch, very pumpy here with poor gear

Südwand: Following the honeycomb section of the second pitch, just before the traverse

Südwand: Following the honeycomb section of the second pitch

Alter Web: To get off one tower, we rappelled into a gap and climbed another tower which had the rappel line

Direkter Südwestweg: Prepping for a hard lead

Direkter Südwestweg: Scoping out the route ahead, very steep here

A climber on difficult route (he's in orange and yellow)

Cool honeycomb rock covered the entire second pitch

Cool honeycomb rock covered the entire second pitch

Südwand: A long pitch of runout crack climbing, but with good plates on the face. The chimney topout was terrifying (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Südwand: Following the chimney topout, very scary to lead

Knirpelwand Direkte: Another honeycombed face protected with hourglasses

A good route photo; the long crack on the left tower is Südwand, and the black pocketed area is Knirpelwand Direkte

Our apartment in Hohnstein, just 100 yards from the town square…ideally located

The midieval town of Hohnstein

The main square of Hohnstein; Bernd Arnold's sports shop is on the right

Dinner in the basement of the town hall; pretty good food, but not as good as in Velden

Standing in front of the Bergsport Arnold store in Hohnstein

The castle and bridge for tourists

Türkischer Honig: Leaning back on jugs near the top of the route (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Türkischer Honig: Runout to the first bolt, then more reasonable and juggy

The amazing Höllenhund wall; we climbed a route on the far right side where the rock is even more featured (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: High on the wall at a hanging belay (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: Feeling stoked after leading the first pitch (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: At the second belay…cold as hell (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: Removing a thread on the third pitch (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: On the third pitch (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: On the third pitch (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: The 4th and final pitch involved leaning across to the next tower, then climbing the face (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: Traverse just before the topout (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: Working on some pro -- a threaded runner (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: Looking down from the first belay at the super featured rock and intricate protection

Talweg: Starting up the overhanging wall -- a real head game (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: Looking up at the second pitch -- many tied off threads (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: Roping up below the 300'-high overhanging wall with…you guessed it…knots (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: Looking down at Rayko at the first belay

Talweg: Looking down at Rayko at the first belay

Talweg: Rayko is on top of the main wall, on an isolated island summit

Talweg: In a sea of towers

Talweg: Following the first pitch, removing a thread

Talweg: Super featured rock on the first pitch

Talweg: Following the second pitch

Talweg: Nice slung flake, but it feels like it might rip off

Herkules Rippe: Following the first pitch on yet another pigging cold day (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Herkules Rippe: Approaching the belay (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Herkules Rippe: Threaded hourglasses work better if you equalize the load by feeding the knot into the constriction

Herkules Rippe: Rayko at the first pitch belay

Herkules Rippe: Rayko far below at the P1 belay

The river Elbe with many exposed bits of rock

Direkte Südwestwand auch: More knot climbing

We climbed on the smooth wall on the left, where everything was hard 5.10

Südhangel: Following the first pitch, leaning way back on a flake (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Südwestwand: Rayko laybacks around a flake at the top of the pitch

Südwestverschneidung: Belaying at the top of the Lokomotive; notice the ring and "towel rack" bar to prevent the rope from creating deep grooves in the rock (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Südwestverschneidung: Writing my entry in the route book (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

This crag is supposed to resemble a locomotive. It's actually a relatively thin grouping of towers on top of a high ridge

The Locomotive crag seen from the top of Honigstein

Rayko looking for his name in the route book

Dampflok: The initial moves, protected by a small jammed knot

Mess of towers as seen from the summit of the Locomotive

Talweg: Tied-off flakes and hourglasses serve as the anchor at the top of the first pitch

Talweg: Making the crux moves at the start of the route -- an overhanging offwidth crack protected by jammed knots, the first knots I placed in Elbsandstein (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Talweg: A small jammed knot on the second pitch

Talweg: Second pitch squeeze chimney

Rappelling the backside of the tower down to the grass; the terrain is comfortably navigated with bare feet because of the sand

Morgengebet: An overhanging handcrack; the crux was the slopey, sandy moves after the crack (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Farm country as seen from the top of Pabst

Farm country as seen from the top of Pabst

Approaching the crag from town; our first route in Elbsandstein was the crack on the right side of the third tower (from the left)

Looking over the town below the crag

Ostkante: Browsing the route book (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Ostkante: Huge jugs at the top of the route (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Ostkante: Belaying from a giant hole in the top of the tower

Leaving one tower and climbing the next one over, in search of a rappel line

More rappelling from rings; nice redundancy

The formation with Action Direct. The actual route climbs the underbelly of the rear buttress.

Super cool crag rising above a small village

Super cool crag rising above a small village

Super cool crag rising above a small village

Standard lowering hardware in the Frankenjura, which isn't the easiest thing to climb in moments of desperation

Kurt Albert started the whole red dot thing, which later became the "redpoint"

The small town of Hartenstein with several crags nearby

On the way out of town to the crag

Igor: An open but amazingly dark forest with a pretty good crag. Rayko runs it out to the first bolt.

Bergzigeunerweg: Rayko gains big holds after a pumpy traverse. Notice the route book midway across the traverse.

Small villiage of Lungsdorf, which is nothing more than a bend in the road. We did climb a pretty cool tower just above town.

Trebbla: Signing the route book at the top of the tower

Trebbla: Starting up the tower above Lungsdorf

Schwarzer Riss: In the rain, we lucked upon this severely overhanging amphitheater with several dry routes

Westriss: A beautiful crack climb reminiscent of the Dolomites (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Hiding from the rain in a cave at the base of the Napoleon tower (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Südwestwand: This free-standing tower, to our surprise, was about 10" thick

Südwestwand: Rayko straddling the top of the tower

Our first climbing stop in Frankenjura

Luftige Wand: Random climber seconding a pretty cool line

Büberriss: Pretty cool climbing down low, but an unprotected chimney up high (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Sauwetter: Lowering off a super steep climb at the end of the day (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Amazed by this formation, we vowed to return, only to discover that all the routes are hard

Our little apartment in Velden, a 5-minute walk from the main square

Best food in Bavaria, or so we thought

Standard dinnertime activities -- email, route research, and taking notes from the days outing

Buying strawberries and other vegies

Purchasing the daily supply of lunch meat

View from the top of the cliff; the approach follows the dirt road

It rained, so everybody headed for the overhanging roadside crag

Super steep roadside climbing, mostly Czech climbers

Corazon: A difficult and long route with several cruxes. Too bad it's out of focus.

Uncomfortably Numb: Tommy sending at Hellgate (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Aimless wandering through the compact canyon, trying to identify things (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Weird Science: Colin leads up the awesome wall

Weird Science: Colin leads up the awesome wall

Weird Science: Colin leads up the awesome wall

Weird Science: Colin leads up the awesome wall

Weird Science: Colin leads up the awesome wall

Melt Down: Not much difference between the 11s and the 9s on this wall (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Melt Down: Not much difference between the 11s and the 9s on this wall (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Uncomfortably Numb: Tommy sending at Hellgate (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Looking across the valley to ski resort on the sunny side

The little town of Kandersteg surrounded by high mountains

The little town of Kandersteg surrounded by high mountains

The ice flows above Kandersteg - amazing amount and variety

Bäretritt: At the base of the fragile pillar

Bäretritt: We climbed the rock on the left to avoid breaking the fragile pillar

Bäretritt: High on the route, pumped, and looking for a belay

Arbonium: Traversing left at the start of P2

Approaching the ice climbs above Kandersteg. The free-standing pillar above him is Rattenpissoir.

Arbonium: Belaying on top of P1

Arbonium: Following the steep pillars of P2

Arbonium: Swinging a tool on the final steep pitch

Rattenpissoir: Climber works up the amazing free-standing pillar

Namenlos: We climbed the first section of this "beginner" route

Chilling out at Observation Point

Our camp at Observation Point; it snowed…again

Chew Time: Colin follows Chew Time at the left end of the wall

Chew Time: Colin follows Chew Time at the left end of the wall

Chew Time: Standing below Chew Time

Large male lion, somewhat covered in flies

Grasshopper

Our tent at Kicheche, perhaps the most comfortable place we stayed in Africa

Breakfast during the first morning of our safari

Male elephant and approaching storm

Breakfast at Kicheche; very civilized

Wildebeest

Warthog

Two ostrich

Some bird, which type I've forgotten

Some bird, which type I've forgotten

Some bird, which type I've forgotten

Some bird, which type I've forgotten

Giraffe

Giraffe and baby

Resting thompson gazelle

Resting leopard

Baby elephant

Topi

Lion

Clouds moving over the mara

Bat eared fox

Jackal

Sparring wildebeests

Hyena

Hyena

Jackal

Waterbuck

Two zebra

Zebra

Zebra

Zebra

A troop of baboons

Tawny eagle on log

Lions feasting on a topi

Lions feasting on a topi

Lions feasting on a topi

Lions feasting on a topi

Lions feasting on a topi

Lions feasting on a topi

Lion

Lion

Two lions

Two hippos in the water

Mike prepares breakfast out on the mara

Breakfast on safari

Portrait of Mike, our guide

Some bird, which type I've forgotten

Two impala sparring

Two impala sparring

White rhino

Two white rhinos

Two white rhinos

White rhino mouth

White rhino head

Lions feasting in a cloud of flies

Lion with a full stomach

Male lion

Male lion

Two vultures

Some bird, which type I've forgotten

Tawny eagle perched on branch

Wildebeest with birds

Baboon in tree

Eland

Eland

Two vultures

Lucie in safari vehicle going into the river

Running giraffes

Giraffe with drool

Approaching storm on the mara

Jackal with the hind quarters of a dik dik

a herd of elands

Ostrich

Resting giraffe

Some bird, which type I've forgotten

Two crown cranes

Two crown cranes

Hyena

Secretary bird

Secretary bird with nest material

Secretary bird in flight

Secretary bird landing in nest

Resting buffalo

Leopard in tree

Leopard in tree

Leopard in tree

Leopard in tree

Leopard in tree

Dik dik

Lion licking

Lion

Lion

Some bird, which type I've forgotten

Lion

Lion

Some bird, which type I've forgotten

Giraffe and two zebra

Giraffe and baby giraffe

Two waterbucks

Sparring zebras

Impala

Nursing elephant

Nursing elephant

Elephant

Two elephants

Mother and baby elephants

Elephant

Elephant

Elephant

Male elephant

Drinking elephant

Elephant with grass

Elephant with grass

Elephant

Baby protected by two larger elephants

Tourists with big-ass cameras

Jumping vervet monkey

A bicycle repair shop on the way to Chagoria

Photographing children while our truck waits to be repaired [again]

Feuling up for the journey to Chagoria

A bicycle repair shop on the way to Chagoria

Repairing the truck tire [again]

Killing time at Top Hut, the building next to the Austrian Hut

Enjoying the sunset, if not for the altitude sickness

Soaking in the warm sun in front of Nelion

Our camp near the Austrian Hut

Our camp near the Austrian Hut

Nelion as seen from Point Lenana

Waking up to the sun at our camp near the Austrian Hut

Feeling full after eating

Stormy weather moves in after setting up camp near the Austrian Hut (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Reviewing route beta (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Chris' tent near the Austrian Hut (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Ravenous after our successful ascent of Nelion (4 hours) (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Looking tired after our climb (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Yummy food at the Austrian Hut (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

The summit of Nelion (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Sunset at the Austrian Hut (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Sunset at the Austrian Hut (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Sunset at the Austrian Hut (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Lucie comes out to celebrate when we return from the summit (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Group shot in front of Nelion (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Southwest Ridge: Soloing the "easy slab" (more like 5.5 in places) to the notch

Southwest Ridge: View from the southwest ridge, during a break in the snow

Southwest Ridge: Let's get the hell out of here…retreat!

Southwest Ridge: Batian (centered) and Nelion (to its right) as seen from McKinder's Camp (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Southwest Ridge: Diamong Ice Couloir and the twin summits of Mt. Kenya (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Southwest Ridge: Jim sets an anchor to wait out the storm (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Southwest Ridge: Fueling up for the descent (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Southwest Ridge: Horrible rappelling in the snow on the descent (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

The road through the jungle to the forest gate was really bad -- 4WD and muddy (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

The town of Chagoria; we didn't want to hang out here very long

Shopping for expedition food

Bags of grains at the Chagoria market

We transferred our expedition supplies to the green 4WD truck; good thing too, as it was hellish 4WD

Lucie at the trailhead of the Chagoria Route

Sunrise at the Mintos Hut area

Chris smokes at the Tooth Col

Our super cool 4WD vehicle that took us to the park gate (plus the driver)

Drinking juice boxes so we don't have to carry them (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Writing in the journal at camp at the start of the approach (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Our first day on the approach to Mt. Kenya (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

On the hike up to Mintos Hut (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Our camp at Hall Tarns near Mintos Hut (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Hanging out in front of the filthy Mintos Hut (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Filtering water for the day in one of the lakes near Mintos Hut (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Ready for the next day's hiking (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Jumping a bog in Temple Fields in a forest of giant groundsel (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Resting at Tooth Col (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

The beautiful Gorges Valley with Mt. Kenya at the head (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Lucie pets a soft cactus-like plant (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Just about at the Mintos Hut on our first day of the approach (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Finally we can see the summits on the approach (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Lakes at Hall Tarns near Mintos Hut (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

View from our campsite near Mintos Hut (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

On the endless slog up to the Austrian Hut, Lucie begins to feel sick (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Taking a drag during a rest at Tooth Col (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

On the final approach to Austrian Hut (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Eating at McKinder's Camp (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Talking about options…should we climb another route? (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Stream through the moss near McKinder's Camp (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Never able to keep warm, Lucie bundles up (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Hiking through a forest of giant groundsel

Our descent to McKinder's Camp went around Point John; the summit of Batian is just behind

Hiking with an umbrella to shade from the sun

Must have a little sun block (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Descending back to the roadhead, just entering the jungle (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Resting at the Met Station, totally beat (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Our porters at the Met Station (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Batian and Point John; the long ribbon of white is the Diamond Couloir (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Pretty flower along the hiking trail (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Repacking on the hike out (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Jim washes up, first time in 2 weeks (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Jim washes up, first time in 2 weeks (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Descending through the jungle to the Met Station (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

On the final march to the forest gate, glad to be done with it (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: We soloed several pitches up to some ledges, then racked up here at daybreak

Normal Route: Chris leads the section right of McKinder's Chimney

Normal Route: Looking down from the summit at the Austrian Hut and glacier traverse

Normal Route: Sitting at a belay high on the route

Normal Route: At the top of P15, Chris downclimbs into a gully and up the other side

Normal Route: Jim sitting in front of the Howell Hut

Normal Route: Victorious on the summit of Nelion

Normal Route: Enjoying the view from the summit of Nelion

Normal Route: Hanging out on the summit; the clouds are already starting to develop for the afternoon snow

Normal Route: One of the many raps from the summit

Normal Route: Traversing the glacier to the start of the route on a recon outing (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: Zigzagging up ledges at the start of the route (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: Racking up after soling a couple pitches (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: Leading up to the ridge past Baileys Bivy (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: Chris belays somewhere on the route (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: Traversing and dealing with the ropes (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: View from the summit of Nelion (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: Sitting in front of the Howell Hut (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: Examining the single-point rappel anchor; looks good (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: Investigating the ruined Bailies Bivy (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Normal Route: This thing is barely hanging together; completely unusable (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

George Washington, from the free viewpoint (I can't believe you have to pay to see the "good" view)

5.9 Route: Colin follows small crimps in the rain (which turned to snow)

Humble Hearts orphanage (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Tusker beer, local Kenyan beer (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Lucie kisses a giraffe named Lynn (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Dining out in Nairobi (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Three sisters, students at Humble Hearts school (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Lucie taught block printing at the school. This is a class of mostly deaf children. (Copyright © Lucie Wellner)

Alter Weg: Topping out, reach for a hueco (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Alter Weg: Topping out past the route book (Copyright © Rayko Halitschke)

Alter Weg: Opening moves involve tunneling through the center of the tower

Alter Weg: Horizontal within the tunnel

Alter Weg: Emerging from the other side of the tunnel, now with great exposure but good pro

Alter Weg: Turning around, getting ready to start up the remainder of the route

Alter Weg: Route book and the various pieces of the container

Hanging out in the coffee shop (the one attached to the climbing store) waiting for the rain to stop

Outdoor store in Tisá is surprisingly well stocked

Many of these thin towers scattered in the forest

Thin tower seen from the summit of Deravá vež

Centerpiece: The super steep Bonsai Wall

Centerpiece: Bustin' a move on the Bonsai Wall

Victim of Love: Pulling through steep flakes at Darth Vadar

Standard Route: Clipping the bolt at the start of the route

Standard Route: Unlocking the crux sequence to gain the crack system

Standard Route: Stemming high on the route

Standard Route: Relaxing on top of Devil's Thumb

Standard Route: Belaying Tommy with fingerless gloves

Babies On Fire: Making the crux face moves at the bottom of the route (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Hang Nail: Nice crack climbing in the sun (finally) (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Middle Cracks: More climbing in the rain. This route sucks - short, dirty, and awkward. (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Waterfall at the head of Sinks Canyon

Waterfall at the head of Sinks Canyon

More Gunky Than Funky: In the steep corner of P1

More Gunky Than Funky: Approaching the belay; odd angle with fish-eye lens

West Gruesome: Finally in the sun, Colin enjoys a comfy belay at the end of P1

West Gruesome: With rain starting, Jim does a quick rap into the chimneys (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

View of the Cathedral Spires, as seen from the top of the Totem Pole

View of the Cathedral Spires, as seen from the top of the Totem Pole

View of the Cathedral Spires, as seen from the top of the Totem Pole

View of the Cathedral Spires, as seen from the top of the Totem Pole

View of the Cathedral Spires, as seen from the top of the Totem Pole

Hitching Post: Colin raps the Hitching Post back to the car

Tons of needles at the Eye Parking lot

Hitching Post: Looking down at the car from the top of the Hitching Post

Hitching Post: Colin sitting on top of the Hitching Post

View of the Ten Pins area from Cathedral Spires

View of the Ten Pins area from Cathedral Spires

Tricouni Nail: Leading out of the corridor up the back side of the Tricouni Nail (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Tricouni Nail: Anchored to the top of the Tricouni Nail (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Tricouni Nail: Anchored to the top of the Tricouni Nail (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

A view of the Ten Pins, as seen from the top of the Totem Pole

Totem Pole: Colin comes up the final chimney

Totem Pole: Standing on the sub-spire just after the crux

Totem Pole: Standing on the sub-spire just after the crux

Totem Pole: The final face moves to the summit

Totem Pole: The final face moves to the summit

Totem Pole: Rapping the Totem Pole

Totem Pole: Rapping the Totem Pole

Totem Pole: On the summit of the Totem Pole

Totem Pole: On the summit of the Totem Pole

Totem Pole: On the summit of the Totem Pole

Son of a Thousand Fathers: Campusing up the big moves at the start

Looking around for dry rock

Sundrops: Climbing in the snow (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Sundrops: Stemming on large buckets at the start of the route (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Ice Station Zebra: Colin's first lead in the canyon

Wyoming humor -- mark the trails with bones from cattle

Looking across the canyon from Dreamland

The canyon, low down, near the Home Alone area

Colin looking all scary

View of the canyon from the Circus Wall side canyon

Picturesque canyon that contains the Circus Wall

The prolific Charlie Kardaleff cleaning a new line

Beer Bong: Stemming the funnel at the top of Beer Bong (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Beer Bong: Stemming the funnel at the top of Beer Bong (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Positive Identification: Wicked good climbing up this arete (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Mistaken Identity: Cool face with giant pockets

Mistaken Identity: Cool face with giant pockets

Positive Identification: Super cool climbing on pockets (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Warewolves in London: Pullin' down on pockets (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Warewolves in London: Pullin' down on pockets (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Euro Trash Girl: Incredible climbing up the face and arete

Euro Trash Girl: Gearing up at the start of the route

Orange Likin' Delight: Pullin' on jugs up the arete

Orange Likin' Delight: Pullin' on jugs up the arete

Wicked as an M-16: On the opening face, low on the route (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Cool detached spire with several routes

We saw this leopard on our drive through Tsavo West

Cool lizard

Hippo with bird

Acacia trees; the vegetation here is very thick, making good cover for animals and bad for safaris

Red elephants (actually, just normal elephants covered in red soil) and a small baby elephant

Another view of the leopard we saw

These corners are known as Elephant Rocks. The route we climbed goes up between the two huge corners.

Chris poses with the corporal's weapon, about 40 lbs

Ivory Corner: Chris arrives at the P2 belay

Every time I wanted to take a photo, the corporal would point as if giving instruction

View from our approach to Elephant Rocks

During a break in the drive, Gitau repairs the engine

Some final sandy pits are crossed before we find a suitable camp site

Super dense jungle on the approach to our camp site

Chris asking for directions and explaining what we're doing. Rock climbing seemed very foreign to the locals.

Chris and Corporal Bulge look around for a suitable place to camp…preferable not next to the river where all the big game are

Corporal Bulge shows Chris the fresh lion tracks; we're not gonna camp here

Forest canopy above our tents

Adjusting the hat for the photo

Jim and the Corporal examine the fresh hippo tracks near the camp site (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

The lower summit of Kitchwa Tembo. We climbed the highest rock formation on the left. (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Another view of Kitchwa Tembo (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

The ridgeline has endless opportunities for climbing

Our camp below Kitchwa Tembo

The approach to the east face of Kitchwa Tembo was some of the thickest bushwhacking I've done. Afterwards, I threw my pants and socks into the garbage.

More bushwhacking

The approach was harder than the climbing…at least more effort

Covenant: Finally up at the col, we can start our climb up the large obvious spire

Covenant: We soloed the ridge up to the base of the final spire, about 5.5 or so

Covenant: At the base of the final spire, Chris pulls the vegetation away from the mouth of the chimney

Covenant: Chris arrives at the top of the chimney. This feature was unprotected for more than 100', and about 5.7 in difficulty.

Covenant: On the summit (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Covenant: Rappelling ths chimney on the descent

Covenant: On the descent, we swam across the opening of this crevass, fully supported by cactus and other vegetation (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Thick jungle on the approach (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Displaying the skin of a cobra (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Covenant: Serious heat and not enough water (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

Covenant: Approaching the summit (Copyright © Chris Yenkey)

On the road south out of Nairobi; this section was especially bad

Our truck broke down just about every time we drove anywhere; this is the first of many repairs

One of a thousand breakdowns alongside the road

Crowded shops alongside the road

Our second breakdown delayed us getting to the Tsavo entrance; we entered the park after dark as a result

More breakdowns on a modest hill; complete engine overhauls going on

Crowded truck traffic on the Mombasa Road

Little red potatos…swollen fingers with very little pad remaining

Wind swept plateau on the approach to the Main Wall

Approaching the Main Wall

Approaching the Main Wall

Approaching the Main Wall early season

Standing on a large boulder at the high end of the Main Wall

Latex Cowboy: Single finger monos are common on routes here…even the easy ones (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Stacked Deck: Big jugs down low makde this one approachable (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Stacked Deck: Big jugs down low makde this one approachable (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Red Ryder: Climbing a flake on a freezing cold day (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)