Ascents in Black Velvet Wall as Tick

The plan: have an easy multi day in vegas on the way to yosemite. Reality: Get to the base after 10, already 4 parties on it. I choof up the variant start called the gobbler. Thought it was called that after someones college nickname but turns out a rope gobbling crack meant i had to climb 5m with the rope in my teeth and then tony had to self belay below it. Eventually joined on to the route, bailed after p5 cos we were still at the back of the train and it got too windy even after borrowing 2 different jackets off people at belay stations. All was not lost, tony found a perfect piss chimney at p3. We saved a partys stuck rope on the way down and walked out heroes! Heroes that bailed off a mostly bolted 5.10a that gets done 15 times a day. It did give us time to go look at the strip afterwards and have a cheeky slap on the pokes though.

Type 2 chimney fun with wide enthusiast Lizzy

Chimney horror. The route seems to go on forever.

os, led 1, 3, 5 & 6

Alt lead with Dave, 10 pitches. Nice slab the whole way. The rock takes a bit of getting used to.

lead all pitches

Epic

Amazing route, from claustraphobic to way airy. Long day.

Enduro, sustained, crimp fest

Absolute gem, favourite climb of road trip. Lisa leading my crux pitch - slab, me leading hers strong, reachy finger crack

easy to simul climb almost the whole route

you better be solid at the grade