Photos by thedus

Pitch four of Snake Dike has one bolt for protection, and it's about 65 feet out from the belay. After that bolt, it's another 75 feet to the anchor. That would be pretty spicy, except the climbing's just so awesome and secure. I took this photo once I clipped the anchor. If you look closely, you can just barely see Robin at the last anchor, and, if you squint, you can see another party below her on pitch three.

I was still nursing a sprained ankle, so I convinced Robin to be the rope gun this weekend. Here she is on a fun climb that ascends a beautiful granite corner.

In early September, my friend Jason, his dad Larry, his girlfriend Karissa, and I climbed the Royal Arches Route in two teams of two (Jason with Larry and Karissa with me). Here Jason is just about to start up the first pitch chimney with his dad in tow, and Karissa is organizing our rope for when we follow after them.

For our two year anniversary, Robin and I climbed Tenaya Peak. Here she is soloing one of the lower pitches. After this section, we decided to rope up for the rest of the climb.

For our two year anniversary, Robin and I climbed Tenaya Peak. Here she is leading the last pitch of the climb. At this point there are many different ways to get to the top, but we chose the shortest and she took off on the sharp end.

Jamcrack was Karissa's first gear lead. Here she's taking stock of her gear in preparation to place a piece.

Jamcrack was Karissa's first gear lead. Here she's getting ready to plug in a cam.

Here's Karissa styling her way up Jamcrack during her first gear lead.

Here is Jason leading the pendulum on pitch 9 of the Royal Arches Route. His dad followed him and then it was my turn to lead it. I think this photo really captures the motion of running across the rock toward the ledge that marks the end of the pendulum.

Robin is midway through her lead of the very interesting and unique Hexentric, at Columns of the Giants.

It was pretty warm after we climbed Hexentric, so Robin and I decided to take a siesta.

Neither Robin nor I were feeling particularly bold this day, so we decided to try our hand at some extremely lowball boulder problems. This one might have been all of six feet high.

After my friend, a neophyte sport leader, onsited this climb, I figured I was obligated to get a flash. The thin section down low on this route is well complimented by the massive jugs up high.

I'm about midway through the onsite of Wet Kiss.

Moving up Double or Nothing after Robin's onsite. This climb packs a whole lotta fun in a short distance. Pumpy for a 5.8.

I'm just moving past the third bolt and out of the crux section of Abitarot during my onsite.

I'm clipping the fourth bolt of Abitarot during my onsite. It isn't apparent in this picture due to foreshortening, but there's a healthy distance between the third and fourth bolt on this route.

My first aid climb was the first pitch of the Pacific Ocean Wall (A1). About midway through, as I was bouncing my next piece, the piece I was on blew, sending me on a twenty foot ride. Robin snapped this shot of me just as I was getting my gear together to jug back up to my high point. The loop of rope is the line I was trailing which got draped over a small ledge. It sort of gives an idea of the size of my fall. Good stuff.

I'm about midway up P1 on the Pacific Ocean Wall. It goes at A1 so I figured it would be a good first lead. Well it only took four hours with one good fall. At least things can only get better, eh?

While it is true that the Valley floor is cold in Yosemite during the winter, once you're on a route you become nice and toasty. Robin and I found this out mid-December, 2004 when we climbed After Six.

Coco Puffs is a great warm up climb at South Clear. The crux is physically undemanding, but it requires doing a few cool moves.

Having some fun (and looking way too cool for my own good with my sunglasses) on Undercling (V0+) on Hash Rock.

Robin likes to start her Castle Rock days leading this fun route. I usually just follow her up it.

My girlfriend bouldering on Hash Rock by Indian Rock.

My girlfriend on Undercling (V0+) on Hash Rock near Indian Rock.