Karén started the first pitch, making short work of it. The 5.8 slab traverse gave me a lot to think about as a second, in fact it scared me for the rest of the climb - luckily the rest was very different.

I got the next lead, linking pitches 2 and 3. I found the 5.9 move next to the bolt easy (perhaps height dependent), but the 5.7 R mantle was quite tricky to figure out, and like the rating suggests, it's runout - it's not a joke. I clipped a few more bolts and belayed Karen from a comfortable ledge. He led the next pitch uneventfully, it had a sustained 5.9 section with a tricky move or two, but well protected.

Pitch 5 was nothing special, although I couldn't tell apart where the crux was: everything seemed like it could be 5.8-5.9, pretty sustained. The first bolt was pretty high too... basically it seemed that if it was below 5.8, it wasn't worth bolting - fair enough I guess! I then brought Karén up, and he dispatched the last (6th) and crux pitch, which is beautiful (and closely bolted) 5.10a face. I found it pretty hard on toprope, and felt ready to go home.

The nice thing about this route is that it tops out on the very summit: so we had a quick snack and descended down the 4th class slabs, which are somewhat scary but deposit you right at your car. Another fine weekend in Tuolumne!!

	Our campspot in the morning - subaru commercial?		Karen coming up pitch 2 on Crying Time Again - the 5.7R mantel is just below him

		looking down from the top of pitch 3	the rest of the climb: steep and improbable looking

	beautiful morning view of Tuolumne (Cathedral Peak on the left)	Cathedral Peak from Lembert Dome	Karen on pitch 4

			Looking down the climb from the top of pitch 5

			if you look close, you'll see a party topping out on Northwest Direct (5.10c)

		Karen at the last (crux) pitch, pulling on tiny holds	cranking

	Looking up the 4th class slabs after we descended them