Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
There seems to be a shortage of solid beta on scaling Ferns Nipple so our attempt is somewhat exploratory. CP scopes out a potential weakness in the tall canyon walls. No dice; it gets too technical.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
There seems to be a shortage of solid beta on scaling Ferns Nipple so our attempt is somewhat exploratory. CP scopes out a potential weakness in the tall canyon walls. No dice; it gets too technical.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
After half an hour of poking around we give up, drive further up the road to the Cassidy Arch Trailhead, and continue searching. Wandering around on cliffy ledges I find a 3rd class cairned route that sneaks its way into Beartrap Canyon. Score!
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
After half an hour of poking around we give up, drive further up the road to the Cassidy Arch Trailhead, and continue searching. Wandering around on cliffy ledges I find a 3rd class cairned route that sneaks its way into Beartrap Canyon. Score!
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin traverses cliffy ledges along a well-cairned route leading into Beartrap Canyon.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin traverses cliffy ledges along a well-cairned route leading into Beartrap Canyon.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Looking down into Grand Wash and the road that follows it. The Cassidy Arch Trail can be seen just above the road.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Looking down into Grand Wash and the road that follows it. The Cassidy Arch Trail can be seen just above the road.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
View down to our vehicles at the Cassidy Arch Trailhead. Cassidy Arch is what looks like a black hole in the distant rock on the left side of the photo.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
View down to our vehicles at the Cassidy Arch Trailhead. Cassidy Arch is what looks like a black hole in the distant rock on the left side of the photo.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin and Dwight scramble up some nicely colored sandstone.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin and Dwight scramble up some nicely colored sandstone.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
The group takes a snack break. Left to right: Luba, Kevin, Dominic, Ed, Andy, CP & Dwight.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
The group takes a snack break. Left to right: Luba, Kevin, Dominic, Ed, Andy, CP & Dwight.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Cassidy Arch sits at the head of the curving Cassidy Arch Canyon.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Cassidy Arch sits at the head of the curving Cassidy Arch Canyon.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Loose scrambling.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Loose scrambling.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
The views really open up as we near the summit cone.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
The views really open up as we near the summit cone.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
CP and Andy hike across the slickrock toward Ferns Nipple.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
CP and Andy hike across the slickrock toward Ferns Nipple.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
The slabs steepen near the top.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
The slabs steepen near the top.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin tackles the final difficulty below the north side of the summit: a short 4th class section.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin tackles the final difficulty below the north side of the summit: a short 4th class section.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
George Benchmark (highpoint in center) and UN 7,100 (blends in to the left side of Gerorge Benchmark) as seen from Ferns Nipple.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
George Benchmark (highpoint in center) and UN 7,100 (blends in to the left side of Gerorge Benchmark) as seen from Ferns Nipple.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Neighboring Pectols Pyramid. There are reportedly no non-technical routes to the summit. Given the rock quality around here a technical climb does not sound appealing.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Neighboring Pectols Pyramid. There are reportedly no non-technical routes to the summit. Given the rock quality around here a technical climb does not sound appealing.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Dominic begins descending the west side of Ferns Nipple. He, Dwight, Kevin and I are hoping to bag UN 7,100 and George BM. The rest of the crew returned the way we came and CP graciously shuttled a car to the Golden Throne Trailhead for us!
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Dominic begins descending the west side of Ferns Nipple. He, Dwight, Kevin and I are hoping to bag UN 7,100 and George BM. The rest of the crew returned the way we came and CP graciously shuttled a car to the Golden Throne Trailhead for us!
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Fun slabs lead us down Ferns Nipple.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Fun slabs lead us down Ferns Nipple.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Dominic and the West Face of Ferns Nipple.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Dominic and the West Face of Ferns Nipple.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Ferns Nipple and Pectols Pyramid are an attractive duo.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Ferns Nipple and Pectols Pyramid are an attractive duo.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Just can't get enough of those views of Ferns Nipple and Pectols Pyramid.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Just can't get enough of those views of Ferns Nipple and Pectols Pyramid.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Exploring a tight slot running along the east side of UN 7,100. The rock was extremely sandy and slick (see how the sand is piled on the rock). Dominic tried to climb upward to some trees we could see above but backed off. We then backtracked a bit to where the canyon was wider and tried to climb some very steep slickrock to get out. The summit was very close! Eventually it became clear that the rock quality wasn't good enough to be pulling the requires moves and we tucked tail.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Exploring a tight slot running along the east side of UN 7,100. The rock was extremely sandy and slick (see how the sand is piled on the rock). Dominic tried to climb upward to some trees we could see above but backed off. We then backtracked a bit to where the canyon was wider and tried to climb some very steep slickrock to get out. The summit was very close! Eventually it became clear that the rock quality wasn't good enough to be pulling the requires moves and we tucked tail.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
This wierd unranked formation is east of UN 7,100, on the opposite side of the canyon we retreated from.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
This wierd unranked formation is east of UN 7,100, on the opposite side of the canyon we retreated from.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
After circling around to the other side of UN 7,100 we find what appears to be a reasonable way to the summit.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
After circling around to the other side of UN 7,100 we find what appears to be a reasonable way to the summit.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin hikes along 2nd class slickorck.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin hikes along 2nd class slickorck.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
George Benchmark from UN 7,100. There is a huge canyon between the two.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
George Benchmark from UN 7,100. There is a huge canyon between the two.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin, Dominic & Dwight on top of UN 7,100.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin, Dominic & Dwight on top of UN 7,100.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Dwight sits in a throne of moki marbles.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Dwight sits in a throne of moki marbles.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Dominic descending UN 7,100.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Dominic descending UN 7,100.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
UN 7,100 looks very different as we begin the hike toward George Benchmark.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
UN 7,100 looks very different as we begin the hike toward George Benchmark.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
UN 7,100 as seen on the hike to George Benchmark.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
UN 7,100 as seen on the hike to George Benchmark.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Routefinding our way up George Benchmark.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Routefinding our way up George Benchmark.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
UN 7,100 (just right of center) looks impressive from here! Ferns Nipple can be seen on the left.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
UN 7,100 (just right of center) looks impressive from here! Ferns Nipple can be seen on the left.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
The actual benchmark is no longer attached to anything and sits atop a small pile of rocks on the summit.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
The actual benchmark is no longer attached to anything and sits atop a small pile of rocks on the summit.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin and Dwight downclimb a brief 4th class section on George Benchmark.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin and Dwight downclimb a brief 4th class section on George Benchmark.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Final view of George Benchmark as we make our way south toward the Golden Throne Trail.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Final view of George Benchmark as we make our way south toward the Golden Throne Trail.
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
UN 7,060 (left) and Golden Throne (right).
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
UN 7,060 (left) and Golden Throne (right).
Ferns Nipple, UN 7100 & George BM
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Golden Throne as seen from near the end of the Golden Throne Trail.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Golden Throne as seen from near the end of the Golden Throne Trail.
Capitol Reef National Park
April 17, 2011
Kevin, Dwight, CP, Ed and Luba ready to roll in Grand Wash.