Hyalite Ice: Abandon Ship (Project)

After scouting a crack line on the Cleo's wall the day prior, Kyler and I huffed the requisite heavy packs up to the wall but changed gears quickly when Kyler spied an ice line that we considered 'in' that had never been 'in' before. We found our way to the base and began the development process. Kyler lead the first meandering, all rock, approach pitch up in to a cave, aiding off one bolt. We drilled a two bolt anchor in the cave and I belayed Kyler while he bolted his way towards the ice. I dont remember what the limiting ingredient that day was but we stopped after Kyler had placed 5 bolts on that pitch. We had big plans to come back and finish it but Kyler has not been back since. I would come back later and try and finish it but was unsuccessful. (See later post)

Kyler checking out the Matriarch.

The climb pretty much goes up the middle of the picture.

There's a massive cave to the left of the ice where we set up the start of pitch 2. Pitch 2 would end somewhere above the uppermost ice seen here.

Kyler trying to find a way up in to the cave. I would eventually come back and place a bolt here.

Silhouette bolting.

Gravity defying ice!