Yellowjacket Tower - 5/4/2008
Trip: Yellowjacket Tower -
Date: 5/4/2008
Trip Report:After grunting our way up the trail with the sun beating down on us, we reached the chockstone.
We climbed up around it to the right, and didn't immediately head back to the left and into the gulley. We spent some time and one pitch poking around above and took the hint when we saw a retreat rappel station.
The rappel put us right at the spot where we could get back into the gulley, which is still filled with snow all the way up. Our second routefinding error had us passing up the hidden gulley. After consulting the route description we headed back down the main gulley and to the base of the hidden gulley where our goat friend was waiting, as if to say "what took you guys so long?"
We opted to just scramble this section which had only one awkward move at the top. This brought us to the right-facing dihedral which was very wet from snowmelt above.
John opted to do the lead in rock shoes and after a bunch of cursing to psyche myself into a couple questionable "friction" moves on the slick mess, I made it up in boots.
John led the summit pitch and managed to get some gear in to protect the last move or two. I lowered him and top roped it up with some more cursing at the high-step he made look easy.
Gear Notes:Bring a towel, it's drippy
