October 2005 

 

Day One -- Cathedral Peak, SE Buttress After huffing up the climbers' trail, we arrived at the base of the climb.  Unbelievably, there was not a single party around us.  Maybe the late season scared everyone off?  Was it the prohibited overnight parking along highway 120?  Whatever the reason, we basically had the Budd Creek drainage to ourselves.  We took advantage of the gorgeous weather and our modest agenda for the day by lounging around for an hour before sorting out the gear.  Around 10am, we finally got off our asses and started up the climb.
Note:  clicking on any photograph will present a full screen version.
	Cathedral in Sight.  Misha on the climbers' trail below the peak.
	SE Buttress.  Here's the buttress in all its morning glory.  The climb follows the obvious left skyline.
	The last little bit.  Misha slogging up the sandy mess just before the base of the route.  Thee highpoint of the Budd Lake drainage, Echo Ridge, in the background.
	On the Route.  Misha leads up the first pitch.  Look at all that sweet granite!
	Very Happy.  Here I am looking very stoked to finally be climbing this route.

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