Goodrich Pinnacle, Right + Higher Cathedral Spire, East Corner
April 21-22, 2012
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It was a hot weekend in the valley, 85 degrees F in April - unbelievable! On Saturday we got a very slow start (12:30pm) on Glacier Point Apron, on a climb called Goodrich Pinnacle, Right. We didn't realize it is a runout slab climb, maybe not the best way to start the climbing season while still feeling rusty! We ended up rappelling after pitch 5 - I started pitch 6, but decided I wasn't having that much fun so I downclimbed (tricky in its own right) and we rappelled, retreating to El Cap meadow for some relaxing in the warm weather :)

On Sunday we did a somewhat "obscure" climb (not in supertopo), East Corner of Higher Cathedral Spire. It was an adventure, finding the start of the climb took a bit of second guessing, and the first couple of pitches weren't the greatest - but the crux corner was amazing!

The last pitch had a "5.6 squeeze" which looked unpleasant, instead I climbed directly to the summit (5.9/5.10ish with thin pro). What a beautiful summit!

  Starting up Goodrich Pinnacle, Right (4th class start, we went to pitch 2 with easy simul climbing) Pretty views of the falls Royal Arches and North Dome / Washington Column  
  Starting up Goodrich Pinnacle, Right (4th class start, we went to pitch 2 with easy simul climbing) Pretty views of the falls Royal Arches and North Dome / Washington Column

  Looking down at the third pitch  
  Looking down at the third pitch

  Shiny rock! Yes, it is that polished. :) Beautiful views Starts off with a sweet thin crack but leads to runout slab ugh  
  Shiny rock! Yes, it is that polished. :) Beautiful views Starts off with a sweet thin crack but leads to runout slab ugh

  Royal Arches and North Dome  
  Royal Arches and North Dome

  Views from the notch Lower Cathedral spire (South by Southwest visible) Junky 5.9 pitch (only including this photo for future reference)  
  Views from the notch Lower Cathedral spire (South by Southwest visible) Junky 5.9 pitch (only including this photo for future reference)

  Starting the business - crux corner above me In the thick of it  
  Starting the business - crux corner above me In the thick of it

  I found an easy hands-free way to do the roof/exit move Though my legs look twisted up :) 1 pitch from the top  
  I found an easy hands-free way to do the roof/exit move Though my legs look twisted up :) 1 pitch from the top

  Great views from the top!  
  Great views from the top!

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