Moonlit approach

In our frenzied search for water, which took us upward, we found it difficult not to stop and take it all in.

Approach gully

Having found water and topped off, we made our way to the start of the climb. The first section of the route involved a 1000' of gully climbing, culminating in some exposed 4th class travel.

A view of a wall

Our route turned the corner after the chimneys and followed a weakness of crumbling wide cracks and vegetated ledges. To our left, the massive fractured lower face of the wall screamed for attention.

Reckoning

Terrain making sense

Progress

Approaching the Eye of the Needle

Finishing the climb

There is always a sense of relief when you know you're through the thick of it on a big route,

Perspective

Our home was visible thousands of feet below, from the shoulder of the wall.

Descent

High in the crumbling granite slope, an alpine forest