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  • Approaching Bullwinkle Tower, the easiest of the three towers we hope to climb today in the Windows Section of Arches National Park. An ten minute walk puts us at the base. width:640;;height:462
  • Dominic leads up the West Chimney of Bullwinkle Tower (5.6). width:640;;height:360
  • Dominic belays me up the single pitch climb from atop the chimney where there is a solid bolt anchor. width:270;;height:480
  • Looking up the crux of the climb. width:270;;height:480
  • Looking down at Dominic and the belay perch from the summit of Bullwinkle Tower. width:640;;height:360
  • Bullwinkle Tower casts an early morning shadow (left). Ham Rock and (center) and Owl Rock (just right of center) can be seen from the summit. width:640;;height:379
  • The summit area of Bullwinkle Tower as seen from the highpoint. width:640;;height:360
  • Dominic rappels from Bullwinkle Tower. width:640;;height:360
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  • Dominic leads up the Olevsky Route or West Crack of Owl Rock. Rated at 5.8, this climb proves to be a little tougher than Bullwinkle Tower. Luckily the crack eats up protection making it a fairly safe undertaking. width:640;;height:360
  • Stemming wide. width:640;;height:360
  • Me on the summit of Owl Rock. width:640;;height:360
  • Ham Rock and the parking area as seen from the top of Owl Rock. width:640;;height:376
  • Dominic rappels from Owl Rock. width:640;;height:360
  • Owl Rock is quite the impressive pinnacle. width:270;;height:480
  • Off-Balance Rock is so named because it is located right next to Balanced Rock. The Northeast Chimney route (5.7) goes up the other side. width:358;;height:480
  • Dominic approaches Off-Balance Rock. width:640;;height:360
  • Dominic leads the first pitch. width:270;;height:480
  • Dominic puts in some protection on the first pitch. width:640;;height:360
  • Dominic begins the second pitch by awkwardly forcing himself into the crack... width:270;;height:480
  • Looking up the incredible chimney that is the second pitch. Good protection can be found all the way up along a crack system. The climbing is extremely strenuous but not difficult. It feels like reverse canyoneering! width:270;;height:480
  • Balanced Rock (right) as seen from the top of Off-Balance Rock. width:640;;height:360
  • Dominic on top of Off-Balance Rock. width:640;;height:342
  • Dominic rappels from the summit using two 60 meter ropes to reach the base in one go. width:640;;height:360
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