We left Jackson falls and drove to Drapers Bluff, Illinois. After turning off the interstate we followed a gravel road a short distance and began to the see a long stretch of cliff to our left. Eventually, we reached a field parking area with a kiosk for Drapers Bluff, geared up, and hiked across the field to the base of the cliff. As we approached the cliffs from below, we began to wonder how the hell we were going to get up top. Luckily, we found a crack between boulders that led to a ledge with a somewhat steep sandstone slope. The slope looked easy enough but I still needed to take my backpacking backpack off to get to the top. Once up top, I rigged a hand line and body rappelled back down so I could get my backpack and photograph Kyle Lapczynski's climb. Then I climbed up and photographed Kyle on the edge of the cliff looking down at Erin climbing.
I de-rigged and re-rigged to another tree next to what appeared to be the best drop on the cliff. After rappelling down the cliff about 30 feet I found myself in a tree so I climbed back up and re-rigged. This time I enjoyed a nice drop which became a free fall after 20 feet down the cliff and ended in a small tree with only a few annoying branches. I photographed Erin and Kyle rappelling down and then we went back to the cars to get my other rope. Once back at the base of Drapers Bluff, I climbed rope back up the cliff and re-rigged the hand line so Kyle and Erin could get back up and then they each rappelled the big sandstone cliff again. I de-rigged and then did two pull downs to the bottom of the cliff. We hiked back to the cars and were soon S-ing our way along a back road to Ferne Clyffe State Park. To Ferne Clyffe State Park
Drapers Bluff
To get to the top of the cliff required a sloping, sandstone free climb be performed.
After I rigged a hand line, Kyle climbs up the slope.
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Kyle climbing the sandstone slope.
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Kyle climbing the sandstone slope.
Kyle climbing the sandstone slope.
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Kyle climbing the sandstone slope.
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Kyle climbing the sandstone slope.
Kyle climbing the sandstone slope.
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Erin begins her ascent.
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Looking out across Drapers Bluff.
Kyle photographs Erin's climb.
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Kyle photographs Erin's climb.
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Looking across the top of Drapers Bluff.
Kyle and Erin prepare to rappell.
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Erin appears over the lip of the of the cliff.
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Erin begins her descent down the tall cliff.
Erin rappelling.
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Erin rappelling.
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Erin rappelling.
I like this one.
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Erin rappelling.
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Erin rappelling.
Erin pushing her way through the tree branches.
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Erin pushing her way through the tree branches.
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Erin pushing her way through the tree branches.
Strange that she's in focus while the background is blurred.
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Kyle rappells down the side of Drapers Bluff.
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Kyle Rappelling.
Kyle preparing to begin his second descent.
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Kyle descending over the edge of the cliff.
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Clouds rolled in and covered our beautiful sunshine.
Erin edging towards the cliff.
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Erin begins her rappell.
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Erin posing nervously at the top of the cliff.
Erin descends toward the ground.
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Brian Killingbeck body rappells down the sandstone slope. Picture taken by Kyle Lapczynski
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Brian climbs up the sandstone slope. Picture taken by Kyle Lapczynski.
Brian peeks out from behind a tree. Picture taken by Kyle Lapczynski.
Drapers Bluff
Brian peeks out from behind a tree. Picture taken by Kyle Lapczynski.
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