Photos by leezerdgirl

Behold the Hogsback, the perfect hunk of rock for trad virgins. I think this was taken on knapsack crack, which I hear is also a great first free solo. If you've ever walked up the biggest pyramid at Uxmal in Mexico holding onto the chain, you know what this route is like. Photo taken by Alex Clayton, an excellent and patient tutor in the art of trad, who selflessly loaned me his helmet (among other essential items), and whom you can see reflected in my sunglasses if you blow up the shot.

Here is one happy Leezerdgirl at the top of Cathedral Peak. You can see the Eichorn Pinnacle behind my left shoulder, which we didn't get to that day (sun was setting and we stumbled the last mile or so to the car with our headlamps against the dark), but which I'd love to return for. Photo taken by the most badass vegetarian ever to serve on Tuolumne SAR, Alex Clayton.