Head Jam - 5.5

2nd time climbing,1st time leading. Like I said befor, if your a new leader this is not an easy lead. More like a 5.7 move out and around the head jam. I got realy sketched out at all the green alge/moss on the rock form the ground to the jam. The best part of this climb is the belay ledge to sit and enjoy the view in the shade. Probably won't do this one again any time soon.

As a new trad leader, I was shakin at the crux. Threw a .5 into some vertical crack w/o even looking and had to move on.

The second pitch of the Buttress and this climb are supposed to be the same difficulty?

bring big gear for the crux or risk getting your helmet stuck.

Climbed up into 'head jam' & reached high to place BD#5 cam; stepped down & used good underclings out left to negotiate the crux move to easier ground; continued past rap ledge & built gear anchor (good med.nut & couple small cams) just above another (questionable rap) tree at the base of a chimney. P2: At a break in the chimney, I opted to make an exposed step up & out to the right, following good horizontals up to belay at a huge ledge with a truck-sized boulder & a tree; one of those 'good' horizontals broke under my foot & bounced its way down the chimney to strike my belayer in the leg (Sorry, Rob). P3/rap: Up & over the boulder, it was a bushwhack across, around left & down to a rap tree (not really climbing, but a fall would NOT be good... we roped-up); Completed rap from large ledge w/ slung block & small tree.

stout considering the crux was wet. moved left into crack