Eagle Lake (90 foot wall)
May 17, 2009
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Trying to fit it all in after amazing Friday/Saturday, me and Karen drove to Tahoe to escape the heat of the Bay Area. It was in the 90's (F) in Mountain View, a rare occurance! We had originally planned a long climb in Yosemite Valley, but the temperatures there were in the 100's, leaving that out of the question. Driving up through Sacramento around midnight, we had to turn the A/C in the car on... it was that hot! Thankfully when we pulled into our camp spot at 1:30am, much higher in the mountains, it was quite cool and I even got to wear my fleece.

We tried to go up to Eagle Lake Buttress, a nice looking peak with a 1.5-2 hour approach and several multipitch climbs. It is above 8000' and we figured it would be cool enough. After some decent attempts to cross the creek at the Eagle Lake outlet (and then further downstream), we tried to skirt around the other side of the lake - and got shut down again.

Our consolation was the 90-foot wall that is very close to the parking lot, and we went there next with the tail between our legs. It actually turned out to be great rock and we were kept very entertained to say the least, a great alternative!

  Our objective, which we never got to :) Eagle Lake  
  Our objective, which we never got to :) Eagle Lake

  Trying to find a place to cross the creek... Sketchy rock traverse above deep water This is pretty deep and raging!  
  Trying to find a place to cross the creek... Sketchy rock traverse above deep water This is pretty deep and raging!

  This part of the crossing was fine, but we got shut down later... Nice looking granite  
  This part of the crossing was fine, but we got shut down later... Nice looking granite

  Eagle Lake Traversing around the lake Bushwhacking to try and get around the lake  
  Eagle Lake Traversing around the lake Bushwhacking to try and get around the lake

  Shut down again by deep water The 90-foot wall, our consolation prize  
  Shut down again by deep water The 90-foot wall, our consolation prize

  Having fun on a 5.9 crack  
  Having fun on a 5.9 crack

  On a 5.10b Me leading the 5.10b to free our other rope.. :) Starting Ice Nine (5.10), 90 foot wall, Lake Tahoe.  
  On a 5.10b Me leading the 5.10b to free our other rope.. :) Starting Ice Nine (5.10), 90 foot wall, Lake Tahoe.

  Pausing at the roof of Ice Nine (5.10) Trying to figure out the moves higher up on Ice Nine (5.10)  
  Pausing at the roof of Ice Nine (5.10) Trying to figure out the moves higher up on Ice Nine (5.10)

  Toproping a 5.10d face  
  Toproping a 5.10d face

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