Sunlight Spire
Date: 09/04/2021
Partners: Brandon Chalk, J Weingast, Chris Baldwin
Trailhead: Chicago Basin Camp
Distance: 7m
Elevation Gain: 2900ft
Route: 150ft of sustained 5.10b overhanging crack
GPX
An incredible day of cragging at 14,000ft with a superstar crew!
This was my first crack climb and stoke was dangerously high.
We each did a handful of laps and made a day of it.
The next day we climbed Jupiter before catching the train to Durango.
150ft of sustained 5.10b overhanging crack
Sunlight Spire (upper right) on approach
Chris belays - Windom behind
Brandon climbs from the belay station on 5.6/5.7 rock to the base of the crack
Brandon on lead
Wazzup Boyz!
There is a small ledge great for taking a breather and evaluating your last move to the summit
Yeah buddy!
Chris top ropes after Brandon's lead
The Spire and Windom from Sunlight Peak. Guessing that is Brandon and Chris on the summit
J takes a turn on lead
Look ma... just one hand!
Alex on top rope for first crack climbing experience
Alex making the final move to the summit
All of us on the Spire's summit - picture from Sunlight Peak
The views were pretty sick... Jagged, Vestal and a whole lot more!
Fired up for a summit selfie
Bradon ready to rap as Chris double checks the setup
The start of the rap was a little awkward as there was some slack in the anchor
Chris rapping
Dangerously high stoke
Bradon cooling off (or maybe heating up) with his Fabio of the San Juans impression
Lifestylin