Climbed the South Face of Mt. Watkins with Nick. Definitely the toughest climb I've ever done. Spent two nights on the wall. 19 pitches, heinous approach and descent, got a quick sierra storm, and took some nice falls. First ascent by Warren Harding, Yvon Chouinard, and Chuck Pratt over 5 days in 1964. They took 1.5 L/person/day. We took about 1.2 Gallons/person/day... and we were THIRSTY. Warren Harding was also superhuman. Many prominent roofs, ledges, and crack systems aren't marked on the topo, but we always thought, "what would the first ascent party do here" and after a climbing for a few minutes, we'd usually find a bolt or some other indicator that we were on route... adventure climbing at it's best. To hear about the first ascent, read Chuck Pratt's account here. http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=637156 http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0040/319022196_LmVcV-Ti.jpg http://telek.smugmug.com/gallery/5245091_LKtGN/ 2008-06-24T01:03:52Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Carpooled with Funk and his friend up to Kelly's folk's place in Groveland, to organize gear, talk strategy, and sleep for 3 hours.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319022196_LmVcV" title="Carpooled with Funk and his friend up to Kelly's folk's place in Groveland, to organize gear, talk strategy, and sleep for 3 hours."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0040/319022196_LmVcV-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Carpooled with Funk and his friend up to Kelly's folk's place in Groveland, to organize gear, talk strategy, and sleep for 3 hours." title="Carpooled with Funk and his friend up to Kelly's folk's place in Groveland, to organize gear, talk strategy, and sleep for 3 hours." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:04:45Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0040/319022196_LmVcV-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 05:48:13 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />We started up Tenaya Canyon around 5:30. Here we are passing Mirror Lake. Already getting warm. Forecast was calling for mid to high 90s in the park all weekend.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319023388_mwCAE" title="We started up Tenaya Canyon around 5:30. Here we are passing Mirror Lake. Already getting warm. Forecast was calling for mid to high 90s in the park all weekend."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0042/319023388_mwCAE-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="We started up Tenaya Canyon around 5:30. Here we are passing Mirror Lake. Already getting warm. Forecast was calling for mid to high 90s in the park all weekend." title="We started up Tenaya Canyon around 5:30. Here we are passing Mirror Lake. Already getting warm. Forecast was calling for mid to high 90s in the park all weekend." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:40:41Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0042/319023388_mwCAE-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 06:08:29 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Past the Snow Creek Falls trail, we started bushwacking to get to the base of Mt. Watkins.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319025066_kuFRv" title="Past the Snow Creek Falls trail, we started bushwacking to get to the base of Mt. Watkins."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0051/319025066_kuFRv-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Past the Snow Creek Falls trail, we started bushwacking to get to the base of Mt. Watkins." title="Past the Snow Creek Falls trail, we started bushwacking to get to the base of Mt. Watkins." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:04:45Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0051/319025066_kuFRv-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 06:40:34 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Crossed the creek a few times...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318869064_5eHzY" title="Crossed the creek a few times..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0052/318869064_5eHzY-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Crossed the creek a few times..." title="Crossed the creek a few times..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:41:12Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0052/318869064_5eHzY-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 06:46:27 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />And finally we got a nice view of our climb. The climb goes just to the right of the shade.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318954770_fGKWN" title="And finally we got a nice view of our climb. The climb goes just to the right of the shade."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0056/318954770_fGKWN-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="And finally we got a nice view of our climb. The climb goes just to the right of the shade." title="And finally we got a nice view of our climb. The climb goes just to the right of the shade." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:54:04Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0056/318954770_fGKWN-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 07:12:48 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Fern forest. Once we got closer to the base of the climb, we pumped water from Tenaya Creek.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318872094_rUCPL" title="Fern forest. Once we got closer to the base of the climb, we pumped water from Tenaya Creek."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0061/318872094_rUCPL-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Fern forest. Once we got closer to the base of the climb, we pumped water from Tenaya Creek." title="Fern forest. Once we got closer to the base of the climb, we pumped water from Tenaya Creek." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:41:12Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0061/318872094_rUCPL-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 07:49:58 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Using the awesome-est filter given to me by my awesome lady on our anniversary. We pumped close to 5 gallons of water in no time. I stood behind nick waving my shirt around to keep the mos ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318873497_dUjq4" title="Using the awesome-est filter given to me by my awesome lady on our anniversary. We pumped close to 5 gallons of water in no time. I stood behind nick waving my shirt around to keep the mos ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0076/318873497_dUjq4-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Using the awesome-est filter given to me by my awesome lady on our anniversary. We pumped close to 5 gallons of water in no time. I stood behind nick waving my shirt around to keep the mos ..." title="Using the awesome-est filter given to me by my awesome lady on our anniversary. We pumped close to 5 gallons of water in no time. I stood behind nick waving my shirt around to keep the mos ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-15T08:25:50Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0076/318873497_dUjq4-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 08:40:47 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Now the "pig" (i.e. Haul Bag) weighs a full 40 lbs more. And we continued on our "approach".</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318875564_zh2Ji" title="Now the "pig" (i.e. Haul Bag) weighs a full 40 lbs more. And we continued on our "approach"."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0083/318875564_zh2Ji-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Now the "pig" (i.e. Haul Bag) weighs a full 40 lbs more. And we continued on our "approach"." title="Now the "pig" (i.e. Haul Bag) weighs a full 40 lbs more. And we continued on our "approach"." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:41:11Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0083/318875564_zh2Ji-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 08:59:06 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Looking across Tenaya Canyon at Quarter Domes.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318877161_XC5M4" title="Looking across Tenaya Canyon at Quarter Domes."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0100/318877161_XC5M4-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Looking across Tenaya Canyon at Quarter Domes." title="Looking across Tenaya Canyon at Quarter Domes." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:41:12Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0100/318877161_XC5M4-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 11:29:22 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />After a 5.6 pitch, a 5.8 pitch, and two fourth class pitches (the hauling sucked...) we got to the bivy site at the base. (There was another haul bag here... mysterious...see it hanging behi ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318878743_Fd4Gp" title="After a 5.6 pitch, a 5.8 pitch, and two fourth class pitches (the hauling sucked...) we got to the bivy site at the base. (There was another haul bag here... mysterious...see it hanging behi ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0112/318878743_Fd4Gp-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="After a 5.6 pitch, a 5.8 pitch, and two fourth class pitches (the hauling sucked...) we got to the bivy site at the base. (There was another haul bag here... mysterious...see it hanging behi ..." title="After a 5.6 pitch, a 5.8 pitch, and two fourth class pitches (the hauling sucked...) we got to the bivy site at the base. (There was another haul bag here... mysterious...see it hanging behi ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-15T08:26:45Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0112/318878743_Fd4Gp-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 13:15:23 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />And finally after the 5th haul of the day... we finally got to the start of the "climb." This was around 2 or 3 pm.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318963592_rRBiH" title="And finally after the 5th haul of the day... we finally got to the start of the "climb." This was around 2 or 3 pm."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0122/318963592_rRBiH-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="And finally after the 5th haul of the day... we finally got to the start of the "climb." This was around 2 or 3 pm." title="And finally after the 5th haul of the day... we finally got to the start of the "climb." This was around 2 or 3 pm." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:54:04Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0122/318963592_rRBiH-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 14:38:40 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Nick leading the first pitch. We had a few choices here. Either go for it and try to get to the Sheraton-Watkins ledge on pitch 8, or fix the first two pitches and sleep at the base. (not ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318882014_PXvLR" title="Nick leading the first pitch. We had a few choices here. Either go for it and try to get to the Sheraton-Watkins ledge on pitch 8, or fix the first two pitches and sleep at the base. (not ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0145/318882014_PXvLR-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Nick leading the first pitch. We had a few choices here. Either go for it and try to get to the Sheraton-Watkins ledge on pitch 8, or fix the first two pitches and sleep at the base. (not ..." title="Nick leading the first pitch. We had a few choices here. Either go for it and try to get to the Sheraton-Watkins ledge on pitch 8, or fix the first two pitches and sleep at the base. (not ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T06:59:36Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0145/318882014_PXvLR-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 15:51:09 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Lots of pretty flowers. Don't know what this is called, but this was my favorite... EDIT: canyon live-forever...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318883644_Wmsbe" title="Lots of pretty flowers. Don't know what this is called, but this was my favorite... EDIT: canyon live-forever..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0162/318883644_Wmsbe-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Lots of pretty flowers. Don't know what this is called, but this was my favorite... EDIT: canyon live-forever..." title="Lots of pretty flowers. Don't know what this is called, but this was my favorite... EDIT: canyon live-forever..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-15T08:27:51Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0162/318883644_Wmsbe-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 16:41:37 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />So we decided to go for it. Mainly cuz we had already drank our rationed quantity of water for the day, and we knew we were gonna be thirsty. (note: pitch 2 does not have hook moves... or ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318885165_LreCh" title="So we decided to go for it. Mainly cuz we had already drank our rationed quantity of water for the day, and we knew we were gonna be thirsty. (note: pitch 2 does not have hook moves... or ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0163/318885165_LreCh-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="So we decided to go for it. Mainly cuz we had already drank our rationed quantity of water for the day, and we knew we were gonna be thirsty. (note: pitch 2 does not have hook moves... or ..." title="So we decided to go for it. Mainly cuz we had already drank our rationed quantity of water for the day, and we knew we were gonna be thirsty. (note: pitch 2 does not have hook moves... or ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:48:58Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0163/318885165_LreCh-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 17:01:38 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Nick starting up pitch 5... with Watkins Pinnacle behind him. (note: this roof isn't marked on the topo... or the trees)</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318886825_isPr3" title="Nick starting up pitch 5... with Watkins Pinnacle behind him. (note: this roof isn't marked on the topo... or the trees)"><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0179/318886825_isPr3-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Nick starting up pitch 5... with Watkins Pinnacle behind him. (note: this roof isn't marked on the topo... or the trees)" title="Nick starting up pitch 5... with Watkins Pinnacle behind him. (note: this roof isn't marked on the topo... or the trees)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:00:42Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0179/318886825_isPr3-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 17:36:31 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />A different view of half dome from here. We could see the line of tourists going up the cables all day long. At night we saw a few "in-a-day" folks that were making their way up the Regula ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318888202_6tZ8A" title="A different view of half dome from here. We could see the line of tourists going up the cables all day long. At night we saw a few "in-a-day" folks that were making their way up the Regula ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0180/318888202_6tZ8A-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="A different view of half dome from here. We could see the line of tourists going up the cables all day long. At night we saw a few "in-a-day" folks that were making their way up the Regula ..." title="A different view of half dome from here. We could see the line of tourists going up the cables all day long. At night we saw a few "in-a-day" folks that were making their way up the Regula ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:01:27Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0180/318888202_6tZ8A-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 17:40:31 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Looking down from the top of pitch 4. Yeah... 4 pitches of the "climb" and 5 pitches of the "approach."</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318891911_xGUvq" title="Looking down from the top of pitch 4. Yeah... 4 pitches of the "climb" and 5 pitches of the "approach.""><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0190/318891911_xGUvq-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Looking down from the top of pitch 4. Yeah... 4 pitches of the "climb" and 5 pitches of the "approach."" title="Looking down from the top of pitch 4. Yeah... 4 pitches of the "climb" and 5 pitches of the "approach."" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:50:42Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0190/318891911_xGUvq-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 17:55:04 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Like the three No. 1 cams used for the anchor?</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318893275_KwBDp" title="Like the three No. 1 cams used for the anchor?"><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0192/318893275_KwBDp-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Like the three No. 1 cams used for the anchor?" title="Like the three No. 1 cams used for the anchor?" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:41:13Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0192/318893275_KwBDp-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 17:55:16 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Hauling up to pitch 5, Nick somehow managed to get the tag line stuck on a cam. Took a little while to get this out... taking a pic while resting...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318973171_6ezBi" title="Hauling up to pitch 5, Nick somehow managed to get the tag line stuck on a cam. Took a little while to get this out... taking a pic while resting..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0197/318973171_6ezBi-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Hauling up to pitch 5, Nick somehow managed to get the tag line stuck on a cam. Took a little while to get this out... taking a pic while resting..." title="Hauling up to pitch 5, Nick somehow managed to get the tag line stuck on a cam. Took a little while to get this out... taking a pic while resting..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-07-15T08:28:52Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0197/318973171_6ezBi-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 18:48:34 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Pitch 6 was significantly longer and harder than pitch 5, the topo doesn't really differentiate between the two, however.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318974347_QKpmm" title="Pitch 6 was significantly longer and harder than pitch 5, the topo doesn't really differentiate between the two, however."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0198/318974347_QKpmm-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Pitch 6 was significantly longer and harder than pitch 5, the topo doesn't really differentiate between the two, however." title="Pitch 6 was significantly longer and harder than pitch 5, the topo doesn't really differentiate between the two, however." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:02:25Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0198/318974347_QKpmm-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 19:21:26 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />I was slowly watching the sun go down from my small stance at this belay... wondering if Nick would make it... and if I was going to be sleeping from a hanging belay that night.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318897274_BVtRC" title="I was slowly watching the sun go down from my small stance at this belay... wondering if Nick would make it... and if I was going to be sleeping from a hanging belay that night."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0200/318897274_BVtRC-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="I was slowly watching the sun go down from my small stance at this belay... wondering if Nick would make it... and if I was going to be sleeping from a hanging belay that night." title="I was slowly watching the sun go down from my small stance at this belay... wondering if Nick would make it... and if I was going to be sleeping from a hanging belay that night." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:03:15Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0200/318897274_BVtRC-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 19:21:36 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Nick slowly making progress... (note: there are anchors at the top of pitch 5.. not marked on the topo).</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318976360_4EAv2" title="Nick slowly making progress... (note: there are anchors at the top of pitch 5.. not marked on the topo)."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0201/318976360_4EAv2-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Nick slowly making progress... (note: there are anchors at the top of pitch 5.. not marked on the topo)." title="Nick slowly making progress... (note: there are anchors at the top of pitch 5.. not marked on the topo)." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:54:04Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0201/318976360_4EAv2-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 19:48:59 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />My last view of sun on half dome... Nick finally got to the anchors around 9:30. I jugged up the line, and by then it was quite dark. Definitely didn't want to lead the wandering 5.9 pit ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318977068_krU2X" title="My last view of sun on half dome... Nick finally got to the anchors around 9:30. I jugged up the line, and by then it was quite dark. Definitely didn't want to lead the wandering 5.9 pit ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0210/318977068_krU2X-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="My last view of sun on half dome... Nick finally got to the anchors around 9:30. I jugged up the line, and by then it was quite dark. Definitely didn't want to lead the wandering 5.9 pit ..." title="My last view of sun on half dome... Nick finally got to the anchors around 9:30. I jugged up the line, and by then it was quite dark. Definitely didn't want to lead the wandering 5.9 pit ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:03:53Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0210/318977068_krU2X-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 20:03:17 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Watkins Pinnacles with Half Dome during sunrise. We slept at the belay on pitch 6. I don't think Nick slept much at all, but I have a superhuman ability to sleep anywhere. The ledge was ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318900298_yrZ9q" title="Watkins Pinnacles with Half Dome during sunrise. We slept at the belay on pitch 6. I don't think Nick slept much at all, but I have a superhuman ability to sleep anywhere. The ledge was ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0215/318900298_yrZ9q-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Watkins Pinnacles with Half Dome during sunrise. We slept at the belay on pitch 6. I don't think Nick slept much at all, but I have a superhuman ability to sleep anywhere. The ledge was ..." title="Watkins Pinnacles with Half Dome during sunrise. We slept at the belay on pitch 6. I don't think Nick slept much at all, but I have a superhuman ability to sleep anywhere. The ledge was ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:52:39Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0215/318900298_yrZ9q-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 06:35:29 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />This was our bed for the night 1.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318978682_2a4Dq" title="This was our bed for the night 1."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0220/318978682_2a4Dq-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="This was our bed for the night 1." title="This was our bed for the night 1." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:04:20Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0220/318978682_2a4Dq-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 06:36:21 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Cool rock features on the 7th pitch. (Note: I went straight up from the ledge on 6, and then traversed right, unlike the topo.)</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318902748_rUSJX" title="Cool rock features on the 7th pitch. (Note: I went straight up from the ledge on 6, and then traversed right, unlike the topo.)"><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0222/318902748_rUSJX-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Cool rock features on the 7th pitch. (Note: I went straight up from the ledge on 6, and then traversed right, unlike the topo.)" title="Cool rock features on the 7th pitch. (Note: I went straight up from the ledge on 6, and then traversed right, unlike the topo.)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:53:06Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0222/318902748_rUSJX-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 06:37:54 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Took us less than an hour to get up to Sheraton-Watkins ledge and haul our bag, eat breakfast and lament that we were not here last night. Oh well. I used my dry bag here too. Good thin ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319020494_CzrqV" title="Took us less than an hour to get up to Sheraton-Watkins ledge and haul our bag, eat breakfast and lament that we were not here last night. Oh well. I used my dry bag here too. Good thin ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/STA0231/319020494_CzrqV-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Took us less than an hour to get up to Sheraton-Watkins ledge and haul our bag, eat breakfast and lament that we were not here last night. Oh well. I used my dry bag here too. Good thin ..." title="Took us less than an hour to get up to Sheraton-Watkins ledge and haul our bag, eat breakfast and lament that we were not here last night. Oh well. I used my dry bag here too. Good thin ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:04:45Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/STA0231/319020494_CzrqV-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 07:59:51 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Pitch 9. Trying to get as many pitches in before the sun hit us.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318904791_XhscP" title="Pitch 9. Trying to get as many pitches in before the sun hit us."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0234/318904791_XhscP-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Pitch 9. Trying to get as many pitches in before the sun hit us." title="Pitch 9. Trying to get as many pitches in before the sun hit us." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:41:13Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0234/318904791_XhscP-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 08:23:33 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />So for 90% of the climb I wore my shorts and boxers. And plenty of sunscreen.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318981607_gcey5" title="So for 90% of the climb I wore my shorts and boxers. And plenty of sunscreen."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0259/318981607_gcey5-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="So for 90% of the climb I wore my shorts and boxers. And plenty of sunscreen." title="So for 90% of the climb I wore my shorts and boxers. And plenty of sunscreen." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:54:04Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0259/318981607_gcey5-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 09:16:47 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Sheraton - Watkins, "plush bivy for 3"... there's the bivy for one... and I was belaying from the bivy for 2 more... much nicer than last night's accommodations.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318908490_ttX3s" title="Sheraton - Watkins, "plush bivy for 3"... there's the bivy for one... and I was belaying from the bivy for 2 more... much nicer than last night's accommodations."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0262/318908490_ttX3s-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Sheraton - Watkins, "plush bivy for 3"... there's the bivy for one... and I was belaying from the bivy for 2 more... much nicer than last night's accommodations." title="Sheraton - Watkins, "plush bivy for 3"... there's the bivy for one... and I was belaying from the bivy for 2 more... much nicer than last night's accommodations." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:05:47Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0262/318908490_ttX3s-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 09:17:30 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />There were gear on all the anchors (see the sailing rope behind me?) and there was even a black rope coiled up at Sheraton Watkins... what happened?</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318909402_QBMJC" title="There were gear on all the anchors (see the sailing rope behind me?) and there was even a black rope coiled up at Sheraton Watkins... what happened?"><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0266/318909402_QBMJC-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="There were gear on all the anchors (see the sailing rope behind me?) and there was even a black rope coiled up at Sheraton Watkins... what happened?" title="There were gear on all the anchors (see the sailing rope behind me?) and there was even a black rope coiled up at Sheraton Watkins... what happened?" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:06:21Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0266/318909402_QBMJC-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 09:21:26 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Top of pitch 9. Nick utilizing his newly acquired thrift store pick up.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318910408_Vv7kB" title="Top of pitch 9. Nick utilizing his newly acquired thrift store pick up."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0267/318910408_Vv7kB-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Top of pitch 9. Nick utilizing his newly acquired thrift store pick up." title="Top of pitch 9. Nick utilizing his newly acquired thrift store pick up." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:54:04Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0267/318910408_Vv7kB-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 10:19:07 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />The view down of what we've come up...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318985302_b38zr" title="The view down of what we've come up..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0292/318985302_b38zr-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="The view down of what we've come up..." title="The view down of what we've come up..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:54:04Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0292/318985302_b38zr-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 12:38:24 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />And what we still had left.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318985831_JZG3X" title="And what we still had left."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0293/318985831_JZG3X-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="And what we still had left." title="And what we still had left." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:54:04Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0293/318985831_JZG3X-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 12:38:27 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />We connected pitch 11 and 12, passing the ledge with a nice bivy for 2. Most folks fix lines on day 1. Get up to Sheraton Watkins on day 2. Get up to pitch 11, fix a few more lines on day ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318986631_NAxXx" title="We connected pitch 11 and 12, passing the ledge with a nice bivy for 2. Most folks fix lines on day 1. Get up to Sheraton Watkins on day 2. Get up to pitch 11, fix a few more lines on day ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0315/318986631_NAxXx-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="We connected pitch 11 and 12, passing the ledge with a nice bivy for 2. Most folks fix lines on day 1. Get up to Sheraton Watkins on day 2. Get up to pitch 11, fix a few more lines on day ..." title="We connected pitch 11 and 12, passing the ledge with a nice bivy for 2. Most folks fix lines on day 1. Get up to Sheraton Watkins on day 2. Get up to pitch 11, fix a few more lines on day ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:55:50Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0315/318986631_NAxXx-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 12:42:21 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />We appreciated some shade... but I didn't like the look of these clouds at all. Clouds over the aptly named (at least for that minute), "Clouds Rest."</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318988176_veVo2" title="We appreciated some shade... but I didn't like the look of these clouds at all. Clouds over the aptly named (at least for that minute), "Clouds Rest.""><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0324/318988176_veVo2-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="We appreciated some shade... but I didn't like the look of these clouds at all. Clouds over the aptly named (at least for that minute), "Clouds Rest."" title="We appreciated some shade... but I didn't like the look of these clouds at all. Clouds over the aptly named (at least for that minute), "Clouds Rest."" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:06:56Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0324/318988176_veVo2-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 12:49:14 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Made for some cool pics though. Nick aiding up pitch 12... a really cool pitch with a small pendulum.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318988743_JQADS" title="Made for some cool pics though. Nick aiding up pitch 12... a really cool pitch with a small pendulum."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0332/318988743_JQADS-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Made for some cool pics though. Nick aiding up pitch 12... a really cool pitch with a small pendulum." title="Made for some cool pics though. Nick aiding up pitch 12... a really cool pitch with a small pendulum." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:07:12Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0332/318988743_JQADS-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 13:37:52 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />And up to pitch 13. I quickly led pitch 14, which required a scary 5.9 mantel with very poor pro... But the storm clouds kept my fear away.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318990128_NscSw" title="And up to pitch 13. I quickly led pitch 14, which required a scary 5.9 mantel with very poor pro... But the storm clouds kept my fear away."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0353/318990128_NscSw-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="And up to pitch 13. I quickly led pitch 14, which required a scary 5.9 mantel with very poor pro... But the storm clouds kept my fear away." title="And up to pitch 13. I quickly led pitch 14, which required a scary 5.9 mantel with very poor pro... But the storm clouds kept my fear away." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:07:25Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0353/318990128_NscSw-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 15:32:39 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />These trees were amazing. They can grow anywhere... At the top of pitch 14, we felt some sprinkles. So much for the 0% chance of rain. It was great timing, as there was a small ledge t ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318991059_PyEXT" title="These trees were amazing. They can grow anywhere... At the top of pitch 14, we felt some sprinkles. So much for the 0% chance of rain. It was great timing, as there was a small ledge t ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0361/318991059_PyEXT-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="These trees were amazing. They can grow anywhere... At the top of pitch 14, we felt some sprinkles. So much for the 0% chance of rain. It was great timing, as there was a small ledge t ..." title="These trees were amazing. They can grow anywhere... At the top of pitch 14, we felt some sprinkles. So much for the 0% chance of rain. It was great timing, as there was a small ledge t ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:56:28Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0361/318991059_PyEXT-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 17:01:18 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />As soon as we got the tarp set up, it started raining harder. Under the tarp, we were pretty jolly, trying to figure out what flavor Jelly Beans we were eating. The snacks and listening to ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318991761_vZ4wM" title="As soon as we got the tarp set up, it started raining harder. Under the tarp, we were pretty jolly, trying to figure out what flavor Jelly Beans we were eating. The snacks and listening to ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0363/318991761_vZ4wM-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="As soon as we got the tarp set up, it started raining harder. Under the tarp, we were pretty jolly, trying to figure out what flavor Jelly Beans we were eating. The snacks and listening to ..." title="As soon as we got the tarp set up, it started raining harder. Under the tarp, we were pretty jolly, trying to figure out what flavor Jelly Beans we were eating. The snacks and listening to ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-10-29T08:46:14Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0363/318991761_vZ4wM-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 17:03:51 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />rigged up the tarp taut, so we were cozy... The winds were insane at times.. and I thought the tarp might fly away... But silnylon is tough!</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318992397_Rdpdp" title="rigged up the tarp taut, so we were cozy... The winds were insane at times.. and I thought the tarp might fly away... But silnylon is tough!"><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0365/318992397_Rdpdp-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="rigged up the tarp taut, so we were cozy... The winds were insane at times.. and I thought the tarp might fly away... But silnylon is tough!" title="rigged up the tarp taut, so we were cozy... The winds were insane at times.. and I thought the tarp might fly away... But silnylon is tough!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:58:25Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0365/318992397_Rdpdp-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 17:04:58 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />And even took a "shower"... We decided we were equally dirty.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318992951_swzfg" title="And even took a "shower"... We decided we were equally dirty."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0368/318992951_swzfg-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="And even took a "shower"... We decided we were equally dirty." title="And even took a "shower"... We decided we were equally dirty." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:56:28Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0368/318992951_swzfg-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 17:22:01 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />And we spent about 2 hours "chillin" We heard some distant thunder, and we were ready to lower our gear out on the tag line, but never heard anything too close, so decided not to.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318993325_BRQS2" title="And we spent about 2 hours "chillin" We heard some distant thunder, and we were ready to lower our gear out on the tag line, but never heard anything too close, so decided not to."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0371/318993325_BRQS2-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="And we spent about 2 hours "chillin" We heard some distant thunder, and we were ready to lower our gear out on the tag line, but never heard anything too close, so decided not to." title="And we spent about 2 hours "chillin" We heard some distant thunder, and we were ready to lower our gear out on the tag line, but never heard anything too close, so decided not to." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:56:28Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0371/318993325_BRQS2-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 17:45:23 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />And soon, the sky opened back up again, and we resumed climbing. We were hoping to top out on Day 2, sleep on the top, but because of this delay, we knew we were spending another night on t ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318993797_sT3Ys" title="And soon, the sky opened back up again, and we resumed climbing. We were hoping to top out on Day 2, sleep on the top, but because of this delay, we knew we were spending another night on t ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0373/318993797_sT3Ys-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="And soon, the sky opened back up again, and we resumed climbing. We were hoping to top out on Day 2, sleep on the top, but because of this delay, we knew we were spending another night on t ..." title="And soon, the sky opened back up again, and we resumed climbing. We were hoping to top out on Day 2, sleep on the top, but because of this delay, we knew we were spending another night on t ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:56:28Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0373/318993797_sT3Ys-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 18:34:47 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />What the hell is this? Never seen a "bolt" like that before. I had a tough time climbing the "bolt ladder" and took 2 falls off of cam hooks. The first time, both cam hooks popped and I f ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318994620_5WpFB" title="What the hell is this? Never seen a "bolt" like that before. I had a tough time climbing the "bolt ladder" and took 2 falls off of cam hooks. The first time, both cam hooks popped and I f ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0374/318994620_5WpFB-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="What the hell is this? Never seen a "bolt" like that before. I had a tough time climbing the "bolt ladder" and took 2 falls off of cam hooks. The first time, both cam hooks popped and I f ..." title="What the hell is this? Never seen a "bolt" like that before. I had a tough time climbing the "bolt ladder" and took 2 falls off of cam hooks. The first time, both cam hooks popped and I f ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:56:28Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0374/318994620_5WpFB-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 20:34:43 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />After fixing pitch 15, and lowering, it was dark. We "re-inflated" some of our water bottles, gear, clothing, put it in the nooks of our ledge... And actually had a comfy place to sleep.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318995432_6sAHJ" title="After fixing pitch 15, and lowering, it was dark. We "re-inflated" some of our water bottles, gear, clothing, put it in the nooks of our ledge... And actually had a comfy place to sleep."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0381/318995432_6sAHJ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="After fixing pitch 15, and lowering, it was dark. We "re-inflated" some of our water bottles, gear, clothing, put it in the nooks of our ledge... And actually had a comfy place to sleep." title="After fixing pitch 15, and lowering, it was dark. We "re-inflated" some of our water bottles, gear, clothing, put it in the nooks of our ledge... And actually had a comfy place to sleep." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:00:03Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0381/318995432_6sAHJ-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 21:55:33 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Water never tasted so good!!!</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318996027_Gxgrg" title="Water never tasted so good!!!"><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0383/318996027_Gxgrg-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Water never tasted so good!!!" title="Water never tasted so good!!!" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T03:56:28Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0383/318996027_Gxgrg-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 21:58:56 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />My bed for the night. Called up Kim and Kelly from this ledge, and fell asleep listening to "this american life"... the wall box (i.e. small stereo attached to an iPod) is a key item to kee ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318997110_gJdKV" title="My bed for the night. Called up Kim and Kelly from this ledge, and fell asleep listening to "this american life"... the wall box (i.e. small stereo attached to an iPod) is a key item to kee ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0384/318997110_gJdKV-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="My bed for the night. Called up Kim and Kelly from this ledge, and fell asleep listening to "this american life"... the wall box (i.e. small stereo attached to an iPod) is a key item to kee ..." title="My bed for the night. Called up Kim and Kelly from this ledge, and fell asleep listening to "this american life"... the wall box (i.e. small stereo attached to an iPod) is a key item to kee ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:10:23Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0384/318997110_gJdKV-Th.jpg 2008-06-21 21:59:41 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Looking back down to bed #2</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318999053_uTMq7" title="Looking back down to bed #2"><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0391/318999053_uTMq7-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Looking back down to bed #2" title="Looking back down to bed #2" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:01:55Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0391/318999053_uTMq7-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 06:05:12 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Moonset over Yosemite Valley... i.e. sunrise.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#318999504_bCtPJ" title="Moonset over Yosemite Valley... i.e. sunrise."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0392/318999504_bCtPJ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Moonset over Yosemite Valley... i.e. sunrise." title="Moonset over Yosemite Valley... i.e. sunrise." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:10:41Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0392/318999504_bCtPJ-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 06:17:04 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Nick gearing up for 2 more aid pitches above.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319000128_GYxhx" title="Nick gearing up for 2 more aid pitches above."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0405/319000128_GYxhx-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Nick gearing up for 2 more aid pitches above." title="Nick gearing up for 2 more aid pitches above." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:02:16Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0405/319000128_GYxhx-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 06:46:04 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />I like this pic... Half Dome, the moon... too bad Nick is slightly out of focus.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319001656_nYvEj" title="I like this pic... Half Dome, the moon... too bad Nick is slightly out of focus."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0442/319001656_nYvEj-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="I like this pic... Half Dome, the moon... too bad Nick is slightly out of focus." title="I like this pic... Half Dome, the moon... too bad Nick is slightly out of focus." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:02:58Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0442/319001656_nYvEj-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 07:26:44 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Pitch 17. Supertopo description: rotten flare, no fun. Nick concurs. There's a huge detached flake on the right side of the crack up higher... which is directly above the belay station. ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319003109_bAJNu" title="Pitch 17. Supertopo description: rotten flare, no fun. Nick concurs. There's a huge detached flake on the right side of the crack up higher... which is directly above the belay station. ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0463/319003109_bAJNu-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Pitch 17. Supertopo description: rotten flare, no fun. Nick concurs. There's a huge detached flake on the right side of the crack up higher... which is directly above the belay station. ..." title="Pitch 17. Supertopo description: rotten flare, no fun. Nick concurs. There's a huge detached flake on the right side of the crack up higher... which is directly above the belay station. ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:03:24Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0463/319003109_bAJNu-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 08:48:48 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Looking up at the last 3 pitches. This was a hanging belay, so I had my umbrella out, used my etriers as a seat... etc.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319004275_zqYY9" title="Looking up at the last 3 pitches. This was a hanging belay, so I had my umbrella out, used my etriers as a seat... etc."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0477/319004275_zqYY9-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Looking up at the last 3 pitches. This was a hanging belay, so I had my umbrella out, used my etriers as a seat... etc." title="Looking up at the last 3 pitches. This was a hanging belay, so I had my umbrella out, used my etriers as a seat... etc." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:03:59Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0477/319004275_zqYY9-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 10:10:55 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Old "bong" on in the crack... I wonder if it's Chouinard's?</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319004796_riLP8" title="Old "bong" on in the crack... I wonder if it's Chouinard's?"><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0482/319004796_riLP8-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Old "bong" on in the crack... I wonder if it's Chouinard's?" title="Old "bong" on in the crack... I wonder if it's Chouinard's?" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:12:00Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0482/319004796_riLP8-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 11:11:40 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Looking up at the 10c crack on the 18th pitch. Definitely the best pitch of the climb. Would be a 5 star climb if this was at the base.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319005575_wzADa" title="Looking up at the 10c crack on the 18th pitch. Definitely the best pitch of the climb. Would be a 5 star climb if this was at the base."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0483/319005575_wzADa-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Looking up at the 10c crack on the 18th pitch. Definitely the best pitch of the climb. Would be a 5 star climb if this was at the base." title="Looking up at the 10c crack on the 18th pitch. Definitely the best pitch of the climb. Would be a 5 star climb if this was at the base." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:04:24Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0483/319005575_wzADa-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 11:11:41 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Killer hand and fist crack, very clean, but my hands would not listen to me at this point. I took a nice fall up higher, and ended up french freeing a section.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319006439_yvjWe" title="Killer hand and fist crack, very clean, but my hands would not listen to me at this point. I took a nice fall up higher, and ended up french freeing a section."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0484/319006439_yvjWe-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Killer hand and fist crack, very clean, but my hands would not listen to me at this point. I took a nice fall up higher, and ended up french freeing a section." title="Killer hand and fist crack, very clean, but my hands would not listen to me at this point. I took a nice fall up higher, and ended up french freeing a section." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-10-09T09:11:30Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0484/319006439_yvjWe-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 11:33:15 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />On the last pitch. Looking down at the whole climb as Nick jugs up. The Sheraton Watkins is to the left... kind of where my left foot is pointing towards.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319007392_S4ZBb" title="On the last pitch. Looking down at the whole climb as Nick jugs up. The Sheraton Watkins is to the left... kind of where my left foot is pointing towards."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0486/319007392_S4ZBb-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="On the last pitch. Looking down at the whole climb as Nick jugs up. The Sheraton Watkins is to the left... kind of where my left foot is pointing towards." title="On the last pitch. Looking down at the whole climb as Nick jugs up. The Sheraton Watkins is to the left... kind of where my left foot is pointing towards." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:13:13Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0486/319007392_S4ZBb-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 12:43:35 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />That's a resilient tree.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319008080_27CZh" title="That's a resilient tree."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0516/319008080_27CZh-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="That's a resilient tree." title="That's a resilient tree." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:02:34Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0516/319008080_27CZh-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 12:45:56 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Nick doing the honors to topout after spending close to 2 full days on the wall. This last pitch says it's a 5.7, but there is a bolt ladder section also.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319009500_WemBG" title="Nick doing the honors to topout after spending close to 2 full days on the wall. This last pitch says it's a 5.7, but there is a bolt ladder section also."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0518/319009500_WemBG-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Nick doing the honors to topout after spending close to 2 full days on the wall. This last pitch says it's a 5.7, but there is a bolt ladder section also." title="Nick doing the honors to topout after spending close to 2 full days on the wall. This last pitch says it's a 5.7, but there is a bolt ladder section also." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:04:45Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0518/319009500_WemBG-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 13:15:35 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />My knee got jacked up on the last pitch.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319010209_YDgLP" title="My knee got jacked up on the last pitch."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0523/319010209_YDgLP-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="My knee got jacked up on the last pitch." title="My knee got jacked up on the last pitch." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:04:45Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0523/319010209_YDgLP-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 13:18:53 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Hauling the bag for the last time. By this time, the bag was significantly lighter, as we had easily finished all of our water.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319010929_VFW98" title="Hauling the bag for the last time. By this time, the bag was significantly lighter, as we had easily finished all of our water."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0524/319010929_VFW98-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Hauling the bag for the last time. By this time, the bag was significantly lighter, as we had easily finished all of our water." title="Hauling the bag for the last time. By this time, the bag was significantly lighter, as we had easily finished all of our water." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:04:45Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0524/319010929_VFW98-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 13:36:10 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />The summit pic. We were beat.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319011490_g2cNT" title="The summit pic. We were beat."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0525/319011490_g2cNT-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="The summit pic. We were beat." title="The summit pic. We were beat." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:04:45Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0525/319011490_g2cNT-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 14:20:08 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Looking back towards Yosemite Valley... you can see the top of Snow Creek Falls from here.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319012316_S6KTb" title="Looking back towards Yosemite Valley... you can see the top of Snow Creek Falls from here."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0536/319012316_S6KTb-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Looking back towards Yosemite Valley... you can see the top of Snow Creek Falls from here." title="Looking back towards Yosemite Valley... you can see the top of Snow Creek Falls from here." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:14:04Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0536/319012316_S6KTb-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 14:46:47 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />You can hike down Snow Creek Falls trail back to the valley... but it's best to hike out to 120. Which requires a shuttle... which we had. Booya.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319013036_3iWPW" title="You can hike down Snow Creek Falls trail back to the valley... but it's best to hike out to 120. Which requires a shuttle... which we had. Booya."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0537/319013036_3iWPW-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="You can hike down Snow Creek Falls trail back to the valley... but it's best to hike out to 120. Which requires a shuttle... which we had. Booya." title="You can hike down Snow Creek Falls trail back to the valley... but it's best to hike out to 120. Which requires a shuttle... which we had. Booya." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:04:45Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0537/319013036_3iWPW-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 14:48:12 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Leaning tree and Clouds Rest.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319013957_oifRh" title="Leaning tree and Clouds Rest."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0543/319013957_oifRh-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Leaning tree and Clouds Rest." title="Leaning tree and Clouds Rest." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T04:04:45Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0543/319013957_oifRh-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 14:56:40 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />After hiking a few miles we got to a small creek. We jumped and received the most refreshing feeling we have ever had... it was like we were living the Mist commercial. We pumped half a ga ...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319014478_U8Pvd" title="After hiking a few miles we got to a small creek. We jumped and received the most refreshing feeling we have ever had... it was like we were living the Mist commercial. We pumped half a ga ..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0548/319014478_U8Pvd-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="After hiking a few miles we got to a small creek. We jumped and received the most refreshing feeling we have ever had... it was like we were living the Mist commercial. We pumped half a ga ..." title="After hiking a few miles we got to a small creek. We jumped and received the most refreshing feeling we have ever had... it was like we were living the Mist commercial. We pumped half a ga ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:16:22Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0548/319014478_U8Pvd-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 15:49:04 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />And soon after, we were on the trail.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319015155_YP95Z" title="And soon after, we were on the trail."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0550/319015155_YP95Z-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="And soon after, we were on the trail." title="And soon after, we were on the trail." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:16:36Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0550/319015155_YP95Z-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 16:02:33 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Kelly and her dad will (who's hammer and pitons we borrowed) were awesome enough to meet up with us on the trail...</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319015733_6P6xF" title="Kelly and her dad will (who's hammer and pitons we borrowed) were awesome enough to meet up with us on the trail..."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0552/319015733_6P6xF-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Kelly and her dad will (who's hammer and pitons we borrowed) were awesome enough to meet up with us on the trail..." title="Kelly and her dad will (who's hammer and pitons we borrowed) were awesome enough to meet up with us on the trail..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:16:55Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0552/319015733_6P6xF-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 17:01:34 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Back to the cars! We made it. Funk dropped my car off here, and had got a ride home from Solomon earlier that day. He and Pia did Snake Dike on Half Dome on Sat.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319016174_SyDsD" title="Back to the cars! We made it. Funk dropped my car off here, and had got a ride home from Solomon earlier that day. He and Pia did Snake Dike on Half Dome on Sat."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0556/319016174_SyDsD-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Back to the cars! We made it. Funk dropped my car off here, and had got a ride home from Solomon earlier that day. He and Pia did Snake Dike on Half Dome on Sat." title="Back to the cars! We made it. Funk dropped my car off here, and had got a ride home from Solomon earlier that day. He and Pia did Snake Dike on Half Dome on Sat." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:17:52Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0556/319016174_SyDsD-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 17:14:31 <p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com">Yu Kuwabara (TeleK)</a><br />Beer! We're done! Amazing! It tastes better than water... I was nearly convinced that water was the best drink in the world.</p><p><a href="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/5245091_LKtGN#319016616_CZTYQ" title="Beer! We're done! Amazing! It tastes better than water... I was nearly convinced that water was the best drink in the world."><img src="http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0558/319016616_CZTYQ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Beer! We're done! Amazing! It tastes better than water... I was nearly convinced that water was the best drink in the world." title="Beer! We're done! Amazing! It tastes better than water... I was nearly convinced that water was the best drink in the world." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2008-06-24T07:19:58Z Yu Kuwabara (TeleK) http://telek.smugmug.com http://telek.smugmug.com/Climbing/S-Face-of-Mt-Watkins-with-Nick/IMG0558/319016616_CZTYQ-Th.jpg 2008-06-22 17:16:36