Brail Book Trip Report, April 14, 2007

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Zander

Trad climber

Berkeley

Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 16, 2007 - 11:31pm PT

Braille Book Trip Report, April 14, 2007

The Doc, in his infinite wisdom, has decided that my ageing carcass needs a little tune up, which is going to put me out of climbing for two to six months starting May 7th. This weekend was the last chance for a big climb. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. As a fallback and in keeping with the creed of WOWCA (Wood Off Width Climbing Association) we decided to do Crack Of Despair. In a fit of optimism we thought we could do it before the rain started at midday. We got to the rim at 6:00 AM where we took this picture at the top of Elephant Rock.
Looking down it was clear that no amount of optimism could get us down to the base, up four scary Pratt pitches, down two rappels and back to the car in less than a long full day. So by 7:00 we were re-racked and heading for Braille Book. I have yet to go straight to a climb up this gully. I always seem to follow the wrong line of cairns, so after getting straight to the start of NEB of HC I had to scramble along the base to where Bob was waiting patiently at the bottom of Braille Book. Here’s a picture of Bob leading the first pitch.
You can see the wild “Braille like” rock. As when climbing NEB, Higher Cathedral Spire is your constant companion.
I somehow missed taking any pictures of my lead of pitch 2. The little roofish crux seems unlikely as you approach but unfolds sweetly as needed. I usually put in a lot of pro but the logic of this climb, this pitch and the others, lead me to run it out much more than normal. Here’s Bob leading up pitch three.
We wanted to move fast because of the weather so we decided that if it made sense he should combine the next two pitches, which Supertopo has as 80 feet each. Maybe I should have read the beta on Supertopo about these pitch lengths! First I yelled out, “30 feet” but Bob couldn’t quite hear me. Then I yelled out “that’s me”. Bob yells down “I’m still climbing”. I go,”You’re at 200 feet”. “I’ll put in a belay” comes down. Actually, it worked out fine. He clipped into the two bolts shown on the Supertopo that you are supposed to skip. In the end this did save us one belay. This one combined pitch is great! You better know how to chimney though because the crux has no holdsand limited pro. Awesome! I took the short second to last pitch. Fun and exposed as you come around the corner. Here’s Bob following the 5.4 ramp.
The snow was softly falling now, big gentle flakes. The last pitch is one of the best there is. Continuous cruising on steep jugs and flakes.
By the time we got to the top it was really snowing.
Just beautiful and quiet. Here’s a picture looking up at the falling snow after we had hiked back to the base of the climb.
The “trail” tallus was a bit slippery on the way back to the car. By 2:00 we had gathered the families and were eating pizza at Curry Village. Another fun day on the rock. This is a great climb! Well worth any number of stars. If you are a fledgling 5.8 leader take the four 4 inch cams Supertopo recommends. We didn’t but we’ve been doing a lot of chimneys lately.

Sunday we hiked up the Falls Trail. There was interesting fog and cloud combinations all day. Here’s a few snap shots of some old climber favorites.
Washington Column

Half Dome

Yosemite Falls and Lost Arrow Spire

See you all around,
Zander

(Edit; Ed, I knew that didn't look right. So much for spell check.)

Wild Bill

climber

Apr 16, 2007 - 11:35pm PT

Thank you Zander for that dose of the Valley. Beautiful.

Levy

Big Wall climber

So Cal

Apr 16, 2007 - 11:49pm PT

Nice story & pics!!!

murcy

climber

San Fran Cisco

Apr 16, 2007 - 11:52pm PT

thanks for the super tr. can't wait to climb that one.

sorry to hear you'll be on the sidelines for a while; best of luck with that!

john hansen

climber

Apr 16, 2007 - 11:52pm PT

Great shots. I'm going to be there next week. Can't wait.

Ed Hartouni

Trad climber

Livermore, CA

Apr 17, 2007 - 12:00am PT

Thanks for the TR Zander, Braille Book is a favorite of mine, for some reason... and that last pitch has you just out-and-out laughing with joy to the top. The best 5.4 pitch in the universe.

Hopefully you will be fast to recover and rehab after your surgery!

We'll keep TR'ing and emailing you in the meantime.

unnamable

climber

Apr 17, 2007 - 12:15am PT

Those are beautiful pictures and great commentary.

Thanks, and I hope the best for you on the 7th.

Chris Oakes

climber

Hayward

Apr 17, 2007 - 12:22am PT

We'll miss you Zander heal fast.

On the same day we were getting hailed on at Atlantis Wall. Great time.

Mimi

climber

Apr 17, 2007 - 01:36am PT

Thanks Zander. Cool shots!

spyork

Social climber

Land of Green Stretchy People

Apr 17, 2007 - 01:46am PT

Cool one Zander, I'll be sending you pics whilst your on the mend.

Steve

dmalloy

Trad climber

eastside

Apr 17, 2007 - 02:04am PT

Zander, I am going to miss your trip reports. Remember that if you are strong before any sort of procedure, it will allow you to recover much more quickly. Thanks for getting all this up - Braille Book might have advanced to the top of a very long list of Valley climbs I still need to do.

LuckyPink

climber

the last bivy

Apr 17, 2007 - 02:32am PT

nice, Z. I was just saying tonight that I want to go do Braile Book and here it is ! Be Well . LP

the Fet

Knackered climber

A bivy sack in the secret campground

Apr 17, 2007 - 09:19am PT

Nice!!!

Raydog

Trad climber

Boulder

Apr 17, 2007 - 11:38am PT

Fun!
thanks.

bluering

Trad climber

Santa Clara, Ca.

Apr 17, 2007 - 11:44am PT

Nice. I've never done Braille Book, but I'm gonna try and get on it now. Looks like you had a good time.

Karl Baba

Trad climber

Yosemite, Ca

Apr 18, 2007 - 01:59pm PT

Nice TR Zander

Can't imagine going to Braille Book, of all routes, on a shakey weather day, but then I know you are a GFP. (Glutton for Punishment)

Peace

Karl

pud

climber

Sportbikeville

Apr 18, 2007 - 02:15pm PT

Great TR Zander.
I have been in a funk the last couple of days due to current world events and it is very healing to see these pictures and read your report.
Thanks man.
I hope your recovery is swift.