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Now How Pretty Is That!

• June 2007
• Uncategorized

Highway 50 is “The Loneliest Highway,” but also the fastest way to Yosemite from Moab. But Utah’s west desert is not as bleak is it could be…..literally in THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE is this quartzite wall called Ibex.
Three pitches, several steep bolted routes (and big hats-off to the mostly Utahn first-ascensionists who have undoubtedly broken many a drill bit on that bullet-hard quartzite), and a few with natural pro–very interesting quartzite climbing–and many amazing boulders, from twelve feet tall to thirty.

(this is just a small one!)
The white-swirled, marblized quartz patterns on the boulders are some of the most beautiful art nature makes, in my opinion. I thought I’d bivy at Ibex, en route to the Valley. But then it was really hot, lots of gnats wanted to eat me, and it just isn’t quite as much fun all alone in the middle of nowhere without Fletch. So I kept going, and made it to Mono Lake that night.

And then, FINALLY, my big reunion with Fletch!!! And Dean.
You have to agree, she is an unbelievably adorable dog! Not only that, she is PERFECTLY behaved! And loved by all!

Now, it’s much too hot in Yosemite, which is not like some big surprise. It is late June, after all. So Tuolomne is the place to be.

Fletch and I made a deal about Tuolomne…..I can go quickly climb a long route, while she languishes neglected alone in the car (but parked in the shade OF COURSE and with a bowl of water which she will not drink until I return!). Then we go to Tenaya Lake, and go to the boulders, because Fletch loves bouldering, and this is something we can do together. So yesterday I climbed Fairview, Fletch languished reproachfully, and then we went to the Gunks Boulders.

Now, if you have never climbed the Regular Route on Fairview Dome, PLEASE GET IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW, drive to Tuolomne, and get on it! Because you are missing out!!! It has to be one of the most gorgeous climbs, ever. (Fletch wants everyone to know the Gunks Boulders are far superior to Fairview, which she personally has zero interest in climbing. But she’s never been a fan of exposure, and far prefers caves and boulders which might have ground squirrels beneath them.)