Trip Report
The West Face Of Leaning Tower Solo
Wednesday June 18, 2014 7:50am
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It had been a year and a half since my last climb. Previously, I had spent six months in South America on a climbing rampage. I climbed difficult objectives that I once only could dream of. And then, all of a sudden, I just stopped climbing. I lost interest in the supertopo forums, deleted the mountain project and climbing weather apps off my phone, sold all my ice climbing gear and shoved my big wall rack deep into my closet. It’s difficult to tell what separated me from my passion. Was it fear of injury and death? Burn out? Or was I just developing other interests? Whatever the reason, I wasn’t climbing.
Over the past year and a half, it started to become clear that a part of my life was missing. Climbing is, was and will always be my freedom. When life burdens me with questions, I find the answers within myself in the mountains.
Last year I prepared for this climb, approached, sat at the base staring at the route and then walked away. The passion was gone and I didn’t wan’t to climb it.
So I came back this year with more motivation. I knew I couldn’t walk away again. This time I wanted it, I needed it.
You can read the full report here:
http://theclimbingdoctor.com/2014/06/leaning-tower-solo/
F.Y.I. My previous post name was JspencerV but has been changed to TheClimbingDoctor
The Climbing Doctor
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About the Author The Climbing Doctor is a trad climber from Santa Monica, CA. |
Comments
Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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Jun 18, 2014 - 09:23am PT
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good work Doc..
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Jun 18, 2014 - 10:40am PT
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Great TR Doc. Stay free...
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Jun 18, 2014 - 11:22am PT
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That's the oldest trick in the book leaving the gear at the base. ;)
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Ed H
Trad climber
Santa Rosa, CA
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Jun 18, 2014 - 11:31pm PT
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Glad you got your stoke back!
Climbing gives me inner peace. I feel like just a man in nature and that brings everything in balance.
TFPU
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Wyoming
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Jun 19, 2014 - 07:17am PT
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Good. I remember the worse part of soloing was the swollen hands, as you show. Every morning almost impossible to carry on at first; I guess their typically at their worst after the first bivouac.
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Jaysen
Big Wall climber
NYC
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Jun 19, 2014 - 08:52am PT
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well done, curious as to why you chose to solo a wall while being unsure if you were still psyched on bigwalling. Go do a party wall!
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Jun 19, 2014 - 11:26am PT
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Great to read your report and have you back claimbing -- and sharing on ST. I need to remember your trick of leaving stuff at the base of the first pitch then going back for the pig. That may diminish the likelihood of my yellow pointing.
Thanks for the TR, pics and inspiration.
John
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Jun 19, 2014 - 01:47pm PT
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I had a similar "awakening," and decided that soloing the Leaning Tower was the ticket to my spiritual salvation.
That was 35 years ago when I topped out in a winter storm.
I know where you're coming from, bro.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Jun 19, 2014 - 04:58pm PT
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"My hope was when I arrived at the base, it would all come back to me; and it did!"
Joy!
And Harry, good on you, too!
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Kalimon
Social climber
Ridgway, CO
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Jun 19, 2014 - 07:13pm PT
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Way to go bro.
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The Climbing Doctor
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Author's Reply
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Jun 19, 2014 - 07:52pm PT
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Peter Haan: Yeah, swollen hands are terrible. Still trying to find ways to combat it. Massage, NSAIDS, clipping my nails etc.
Jaysen: Unfortunately I get psyched when I push myself, so a party wall wasn't going to do it for me
Sierra Ledge Rat: Whoo man. A winter storm is tricky on Leaning Tower. I guess the only way is up!
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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Jun 19, 2014 - 08:02pm PT
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Good TR.
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The West Face of Leaning Tower. Photo: Corey Rich
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