Cloud Tower Direct (5.11d A0) to LULz"ON"US (FA II 5.7+) link up

During the rest day Luke and I started contemplating bigger things. Even though I am lousy (relatively speaking) at face climbing, success on Black Velvet Peak allowed me to gain enough confidence to consider the Original Route on Rainbow Wall as a possibility. Another climb I wanted to attempt was the Cloud Tower. Both of these, to me, seemed like a big personal challenge as is. Luke’s idea about climbing these routes was a little different, “LET’S LINK’EM UP!” I tried to propose an easier link up, “maybe we do Cloud Tower and Crimson Crysallis?” “Yea, we can do Crimson Crysallis, on the way back after we link up the Cloud Tower to Rainbow Wall,” said Luke. His energy was contagious and I got excited about the link up myself. 

Cloud Tower!

"Don't mess with me"

Cool rock on Cloud Tower. Reminds me of Hatun Machay, Peru

Luke leading the awesome splitter on pitch 3

We had an alpine start and got to the scenic loop entrance several minutes before 6am. Made good time on the hike in and I linked the first two pitches of 5.8 to make things go a little faster. Luke took the awesome 5.10 splitter and we were below the crux of the route – a 5.11d corner. Since Luke has sent this pitch before, I tried to get the OS and led it. I ended up taking two falls and my ego quickly approved the 5.12a rating that is listed in some sources. Common sense opposed it, “you are not a 5.12 climber, so why are you surprised?” Before these two settled, Luke got up to the belay station and set off for the next lead. He linked the amazing fist crack with a fun chimney tunnel through and managed to booty another cam. For those who are not familiar with Luke, it is very unlikely that he does NOT booty something on every other climb he does. Not sure if calling him a booty machine is appropriate, but he does well collecting booty. *His wife is a rock climber too and knows what I mean when I say booty. I am not being a bad wingman here!  By the way, closest thing we had to a party while climbing at Vegas was a late night trip to Five Guys and Yogurtland after climbing the Warrior! Luke is a terrible wing-man, not me!!!*

Me on the 5.11d crux

Crux pitch on Cloud Tower from the valley

Luke leading the awesome 5.10c fists pitch

I am leading the 5.11c pitch on Cloud Tower

Anyway, we were talking about climbing the Cloud Tower. I was at the base of the 5.11c corner and it was another big lead of mine. Since I fell on the other crux pitch, I was really relaxed about this lead, and sent the pitch without breaking much sweat. Actually didn’t seem harder than the Fox or Our Father, both of which are 5.10ds. At times trad ratings confuse me so much that I wish “if it was super hard but you free climbed it - give it a 5.9+” system was still in effect. After hauling our mini bag to the anchor I continued up and linked the pitch to the next 5.12+ pitch - in my case A0 bolt ladder with some 5.10 free climbing mixed in. Upper section was really loose, and I was glad I had a green alien to pull on. Next up was a tough 5.9 offwidth which was Luke’s lead, thank god. We simul climbed the 4^th class terrain above and I almost pulled a giant block while leading the final chimney of the climb. Even though this pitch was fun, I wish more people climbed it on regular basis so it could clean up. It was about 1pm (?) and we were already done with the Cloud Tower Direct. Seemed like we had a chance for the link up!

Luke leading the OW on Cloud Tower Direct

Views from top of the Cloud Tower

There it is! We though we could approach it by climbing the towers ahead

Yeah, Rainbow Wall at last!

Here is where the story got a bit more entertaining. We followed a major trail down and at one point thought it can’t be the right one. “It is too good! Must be hikers’ trail that leads down. We need to get across to Rainbow!” We found a loose, wet and scary gulley that led us to some ledges above. Terrain here became a bit more real. And we soloed 5^th class ledges and something that I would call a 5.8 OW. In a way, this seemed like a way for bad-ass climbers that would link up Cloud Tower to Rainbow Wall. After we got to the top of the formation, that we spent the last hour climbing we realized how screwed we were. About a thousand feet above where we wanted to be. We tried to rappel, but did not have enough trees to continue. At some point we decided to climb up the headwall we just rappel using the top rope set up we had going. It was probably a First Ascent of a 30M 5.7+ pitch which we will make sure to submit in the AAJ….NOT. In any case, we rappelled and reversed our adventure back to the “hikers trail.” It led us down and we ended up 300 or so feet below the Rainbow Wall. It was after 4pm and we did not feel bad-ass enough to climb the Rainbow Wall in under three hours, so we bailed on the idea and went back down to our car. Even though we didn’t complete our planned link-up the alternative was a kick-ass day nonetheless!  

 

Me leading Our Father 5.10d. Who said RR doesn't have awesome cracks?!

Me leading the awesome arete pitch (5.11a) on Delicate Sound of Thunder

Luke leading the 5.11b crux of Delicate Sound of Thunder

Crack gets me psyched

Luke on Tales from The Gripped (5.11b)

As a benefit from not being very tired on the following day, we decided to do some cragging in Black Velvet. We got on a few awesome routes including Delicate Sound of Thunder (2p 11b), Our Father (3 p 10d) and Tales from the Gripped (3p 11b). The climbing on all three was pretty challenging and fun. Our finger tips got trashed after three days of climbing and we decided that on the following day we will let them heal by climbing The Warrior!