This "fantabulous" adventure marked Kristin's first multi-pitch alpine climb....what a magical place to tackle your first "trad" climb! Granite of this quality is usually spattered with climbers. Not the case with Chimney Rock of northern Idaho's Selkirk mountains. We had the entire area to are self.
Chimney Rock: is a unique granite tower that sits atop of a prominent ridge and has adopted the name "lightning rod" of North Idaho. The West Face was first climbed in 1934 by John Carey, Mart Chamberlain, Fred Theime, and Byron Ward. This "west face direct route" is the easest way to the formations summit and goes at about 5.5. The formation today features roughly 50 routes on its west and east faces.
Kristin and I choose to climb the slightly more challenging
Rappel Chimney (5.7) route. What a brilliant little route this was. Some excellent pitches and movement packed into this classic route. (For detailed information on the route see my write up posted on Mountain Project...click link above)
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| First view of Chimney's west face |
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| Rappel Chimney follows the obvious right facing corner system seen near the left edge of the formation |
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| Trying to show her profile here. The summit was an awesome place...only about 20' wide |
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| Nearing the end of pitch 1 |
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| Kristin coming through the perfect pitch 3 corner |
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| 1st Alpine route in the books:)....."not the last" |
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| bye chimney....until we come ski you this winter:) |
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