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Slideshow (155 photos)

Unknown: Climbing a pillar on the east side of Avalanche Pass before one reaches the lake; the climb is broken into two parts -- the initial pillar to a ledge, then a rock overhang

Posing on the lake after completing Killer Whale

Laceration: Tommy leading the steep ice smear of Laceration

Reunion: Tommy leads the thin lower face that leads to the cave

Reunion: After getting gear in the rock cave, Tommy climbs the crux column

Artificial Gravity: Tommy starts the crux pitch of Artificial Gravity; the pillar on the right side is Power Play

Artificial Gravity: At the top, the ice overhangs; the route finishes by mounting the free-hanging pillar to the right

Rhiannon: The Big Brother wall in fat conditions; Big Brother is on the broken ice column on the left, Tommy is on Rhiannon, and Lilith is on the far right. On the orange wall just right of Tommy is the free-hanging column called Not Likely

Reunion: The cave is exited using an ice host that drips on the face to the left; the strip of ice on the right is Laceration

The Fecalator: Tommy belays Bones as he works the moves on The Fecalator

The Fecalator: Tommy belays Bones as he works the moves on The Fecalator

Left of Passage: Tom climbing around the chockstone on the direct start of Left of Passage

Here Come the Pigs: Tom leading the first ascent at Pharaoh Mt.

Tom posing at the base of his new route

Waterfall: Tommy leading an ambitious line on the Waterfall with Katherine Snead

Waterfall: Tommy leading an ambitious line on the Waterfall with Katherine Snead

Mechanical Hydraulic Control: Tom seconding the corner left of Fear of Gravity

Your Anus: Tom getting a rest after squeezing through the crux on Your Anus

Tom and Nona having dessert in the kitchen after a day of ice climbing

Polar Soldier: Tommy climbs the WI5 pillar on the left side of Polar Soldier

Polar Soldier: Tommy climbs the WI5 pillar on the left side of Polar Soldier

Pangborn: Starting up Pangborn, one of the longer routes at the Hills

Pangborn: Dancing up the face

Pangborn: Looking like an ant on the face, Tommy runs up the endless plates to the anchor

Call of the Canyon: Old school Tommy sport climbing…yeah boy!

Call of the Canyon: Resting at a good handhold

Call of the Canyon: Resting at a good handhold

Parking in the boulder field in front of the crag

Making shadows at sunset

Unknown: Following an awesome hand crack

Rapping the largest waterfall, Big Angel; there are a bunch of route possibilities here

Unknown: The easier line at Little Angel

Unknown: Going through a small, unprotected roof

Unknown: Clearing the roof

Preparing to climb Little Angel

Rapping Little Angel; we led two routes here, one directly under the rappeller, and one to the right

The Fire Spire: Colin follows the first pitch, belayed from above by Tom, just before a major storm hit

The Fire Spire: Tommy and Colin gearing up at the base of the spire

The Fire Spire: Tom leading the first pitch of the spire

East Ridge: Tom hiking towards the Bear's Tooth

East Ridge: Tom on the 4th class slabs just below the south face of the Bear's Tooth spire

Batteries Not Included: Gearing up at the base of the route

Fording the stream to get to the Eye of the Needle formation; very cold

Batteries Not Included: Tom leading P1, slightly off route. The "eye" after which the formation is named is visible above him.

Batteries Not Included: Colin and Tommy at the belay in front of the "eye"

Book of Payne: Tommy climbs the excellent corner crack on the Jedi Wall

Hanging out in the van at a City of Rocks campsite

Hiking around Castle Rock

Red Rib: Starting out on Red Rib, which I thought was pretty hard for the grade

Mantel Dynamics: The most over bolted route on the planet, we had to back clean draws to make it to the top

Sleeping under an overhanging wall, waiting out the rain

Animal Cracker: Tommy shows his stuff at the start of Animal Cracker

Animal Cracker: Tommy approaches the offwidth section

Tommy and Michelle drinking…how about a beer?

The Pygmies Got Stoned: Tommy and Michelle show off their hair

The Pygmies Got Stoned: Contemplating the next move

Sabbatical: Tommy belays Jim on Sabbatical

Intruding Dike: Tommy and Michelle climbing in the cold morning wind

Mean Green: Jim climbs the first pitch (WI4) of Mean Green, belayed by Tommy; the second pitch can be seen above

Mean Green: Joe climbs the crux pitch of Mean Green (WI5), belayed by Tommy

Tom showing off his new hand plane

Tommy and Joe wait for their laundry

Chowing down in the "Mother Ship"

The Ramp: Topping out on The Ramp -- the top of the 5.9 variation on pitch 5

The Ramp: At the top of the first pitch of The Ramp

Sand Dune Falls: Tommy and Joe take a rest at the base of Sand Dune Falls; unfortunately, the bottom portion of the route was missing -- she no go

Returning from a failed attempt at Sand Dune Falls

Nikos, Fanni, and Tom standing on driveway discussing routes

The morning after the big bash…everyone is drinking water to treat the hangover

Uncomfortably Numb: Tommy sending at Hellgate (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Aimless wandering through the compact canyon, trying to identify things (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Uncomfortably Numb: Tommy sending at Hellgate (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

Taking a rest on the approach to Cleopatra's Needle and Twin Falls

Cleopatra's Needle: Reaching for a screw on the second pitch (WI5)

Cleopatra's Needle: Tommy stays dry by climbing the right side of the pillar

Rad Lad: Tommy struggles with the first crux on Rad Lad

The Mother Load: Tom and Mioara huddled at the second belay on The Mother Load

The Mother Load: Tom leads the final pitch

Want some beans?

Whimpsickle: Tommy climbs poor ice at bottom third of Whimpsickle; this climb is anything but whimpy, as we found it to be one of the harder routes we climbed

Called on Account of Rains: Tom and Simeon at the cave belay on top of the first pitch

Called on Account of Rains: Leading the thin ice on the first pitch of Called; the route steepens just above, then stretches the rope to the cave visible beneath a hanging pillar on the right

Called on Account of Rains: Tommy takes the right-hand line of ice on the top pitch

Called on Account of Rains: Tommy takes the right-hand line of ice on the top pitch

The Cabins at Nelson

Crossing the bridge on the via ferrata

Rappelling to the climbs at Nelson Rocks

Tad and Tommy show off their massive arms

Triple Treat: A hard .10a, Triple Treat packs a punch at the roof

10% Real: A real classic of the area, Tommy climbs 10% Real early in the season; the crux starts just below Tommy's feet

10% Real: A little higher on the crux

10% Real: Higher up, Tommy stems onto the left wall that has just enough ice to support such a maneuver

10% Real: The climb angles back briefly, then steepens up once again for a second crux

Parallax: Tommy climbs the steep upper section of the free-hanging icicle

Cascade Falls: Tommy climbs Cascade Falls on the right -- many lines can be climbed on this massive piece of ice, from WI3 to WI4

Obsession: Tommy climbs the steep pillar at the top of Obsession; smart climbers (not us) belay at bolts on the left low on the route, then climb the route in one pitch instead of breaking the pitch at the place where this picture is taken

Checking out the view on the way into the Gorge

Welcome to the Gorge: Near the start, and pretty slippery

May Be Nueve: Mioara climbs the final crack to the anchor

Tommy reaches the anchors on Captain America; Mioara belays below

Tanks for the Hueco: Tommy cranks up the huecos at the top of the route

Crescent Moon: Tommy poses for the camera below the crux

Unknown: Tom leading out of the cave during rainy weather

Waiting out some rain

Unknown: Tommy climbing an overhanging, juggy route

Mate, Spawn, and Die: Tommy gets ready to lead the class Mate, Spawn, and Die

Mate, Spawn, and Die: Tommy finds fat ice on Mate, Spawn, and Die

Play it Again, Salmon: Tommy runs it out over the initial section

Play it Again, Salmon: About half way up, Tommy heads slightly left to gain a rest between the columns

Play it Again, Salmon: Spectacular climbing on the 100' free standing ice column

Play it Again, Salmon: Chris belays Tommy while he places a screw

MF: Close-up of Tom clearing the second crux on MF, pitch 1

The gang hanging out at the base of Turdland

MF: Tom clearing the second crux on MF, pitch 1

Standard Route: Clipping the bolt at the start of the route

Standard Route: Unlocking the crux sequence to gain the crack system

Standard Route: Stemming high on the route

Standard Route: Relaxing on top of Devil's Thumb

B/C: Tommy nears the top of this fine, juggy route

B/C: Close-up of Tommy on B/C

Center Route: Tommy leads the first pitch (5.8) of Center Route; the second pitch ends below the large triangular roof above

The Standard: Lee works his way through the crux flakes at the start of The Standard; Mioara and Tommy start up another route in the foreground

Deception Past: Stemming into the crux corner

Deception Past: Higher in the corner, Tommy contemplates a gear placement

Deception Past: Clipping the #1 Camalot

Deception Past: After making the crux moves, Tommy looks down for the camera

Deception Past: Reaching the belay on the first pitch of Deception Past

Preparing breakfast; keg in the background

Early morning breakfast before heading out to Wigwam

Jim holds the temporary brace as the others lower the ridge pole into position

Calvin uses giant orange hammer to wack something into place

Preparing a large section of the timber frame for lifting by the crane

The crew prepares to receive the ridge pole

The timber frame, about 1/3 completed

Jim and Tommy watch the frame raising

Joe and Tommy climb around on the completed frame

The "climbers" help position the scaffolding

A minor ridge pole is lowers into position

A large subsection of rafters is lifted by crane and positioned around the chimney opening

Richard and Tom guide the rafters into position

The first ridge pole is moved into position

Setting up the straps and comealong in order to pull together the two bents

The finished frame

A closeup of the raising crew

Another view of the finished frame and crew

Another view of the front ridge pole being installed

All hands on deck for the second ridge pole

Tommy working during the raising

Taking a break from the action

Working during the raising

Lizard King: We all got a taste of 5.9 friction…yikes!

Hiking to the crags around Whitney Portal involves some portion of the Mt. Whitney trail, which is where we're standing (Copyright © Colin O'Connor)

No Country for Old Men: Nice rope management

No Country for Old Men: Tommy follows the undercling pitch with a full pack of gear, no less

No Country for Old Men: At the P5 belay, happy to be bailing