first climb of the year

We set off down a minimum maintenance trail up the hill off the lake. When we hiked the summit the day prior we noticed there were some picnic tables and road down below, thus telling us there was another way to this gem hidden behind the trees on Hwy 61.


It wasn't long before gratefulness was welling up in my heart that I owned a Jeep, the road would have been impassable in something less than a 4x4. We suddenly realized what the road was, it was a trail used to haul rocks down the mountain. We passed numerous quartz mines until we finally reached the top, where we began our hike to the south face of Carlton Peak.


When we arrived, it wasn't a question of whether we would climb, but where. There we numerous routes which looked awesome. We chose one that looked like it had the most versatility for rope placement:routes. Terry and I scurried up a crack to set the top rope. After locating and placing some solid protection, we lowered the rope and repelled down the face, and so we climbed.


The day was already late, so we didn't have much time. We each got about three climbs in before we decided to head back. It will be a goal of ours to make it back here sometime this summer.