Touchstone Wall III 5.9 C1 (or 5.12) - A1 popular

Descent down the gully almost turned into a nightmare, a rope got stuck, had to climb back on crappy rock to free it.

Soloed this in march and I was early enough in the season that I think I might have been one of just a few climbers in all of Zion! (at least that's how it felt) Never realized how exhausting doing something like this solo could be, but it was still pretty cool. Make sure you have your bigger gear for the pitches higher up. On one pitch ( i think 6) I had to leap frog my two #4s for 40-50 feet.

Last weekend I Soloed Touchstone Wall again and I employed the continuous loop self belay method. I LOVED IT! I only had to haul 3 times while on the wall. (Hauling takes the most time so the less I do it the better). Someone put bolt #6 back on P1 and this time added epoxey to the D.A. too! Sure was nice. They also added a pin to the traverse to get to the roof! Its so welcome to see the poxy on it too. However the broken pin above the lip of the roof is still there. Guess it adds flavor. I had enough gear to run Pitches 2,3,4 all together then haul at the top. It took soo long to rap and clean I lost feeling in my legs.
My Silent Partner turned into its own Cluster F and kept short roping me. I rapped the route because the slot canyon decent to the east can be its own epic with a haul bag.
If you want to fire it in a day, get a white pass at the BC desk. This will ensure others stay away from the route. That or buy a bivi permit.
I live an hour away and I'm always looking for a partner.
kevin_likes_to_climb_much@hotmail.com
www.mountainproject.com has way better beta on this route.

buddys first wall

Got high on this wall in a day, then rapped the route in the dark (11:00p.m. or so) when we noticed my wife waiting in the car at the pullout way down below. Next time...it's too good an easy aid route not to finish. But dang, I gots to get faster!