Since we were already down in Santa Cruz for Katie's climbing comp yesterday, we went for our planned climb today, Old Original on the West Side. Climbed with my 13 year old daughter Katie and my friend Jerome, who up to now I've only done long High Sierra routes with. The weather gods let us pass. Big black clouds but no rain; that is none until we got in the car at the end of the day. Gotta like that luck.
Katie led two of the three 5.5 pitches and Jerome led the other. Both of them loved the exposure. Jerome thought the route compared well to some of the High Sierra routes we've done (I agree, it's just a stellar route). We did the standard descent.
In the parking lot:
Here's Jerome working with Katie on where the first pitch goes:
Katie Leading the first pitch:
Her belaying Jerome up that pitch (with a Gri-Gri):
On the far south end of Machete:
Katie leading the crux of the third pitch:
Self portrait:
On the fourth pitch:
Lunch:
On the far north end of Machete:
Katie doing the rappel off Second Tower:
Big fun, good luck and good company.
