The next day some of us rose at 7:30 AM. We left camp around 9:00 AM and arrived at the Whiteside parking lot probably around 9:30. Tom enthusiastically accepted the rope and Nate, Tom, and I ascended the easy tourist path to the top of the mountain where we contoured around to the drop. Nate made a comment on the way there that the cliff was too high. The rigging went smoothly and I was soon on rope. On my way down, I padded the major rub point and descended over the edge into the free fall. It didn’t seem as tall as I’d remembered it but the view was still spectacular. The ride down was rather bumpy and erratic due to Brandon’s somewhat muddy High Line rope. It’s been determined by many of us that High Line rope sucks and is prone to causing erratic rappelling speeds. About 125’ off the ground I pushed the rope off a ledge and soon after got to untangle a small mess of rope. I was glad it hadn’t formed a knot because there was still a lot of rope beneath me. Soon, I was at the bottom. I yelled off rope at the top of my lungs but they didn’t hear. I’d brought radios but one of them had stopped working since the week before. After about 20 minutes, I spotted Nate at the ledge. I photographed as he slowly descended the cliff. You don’t want to descend a 650’ cliff on Highline quickly!
After he’d fed and watered himself, I got on rope and started up. The climb was slow but very enjoyable. Both Nate and I felt at ease hanging above the vast valley swaying in the pleasant breeze. It was a beautiful day! At the top of the freefall we paused for pictures. I met a somewhat cranky, impatient Brandon another 40’ further up. He’d been waiting to take pictures of us though he took few of me in my hideously comfortable outfit. He soon requested that I photograph him so I took pictures of both him and Nate before ascending to the top.
Mike was next. I noticed during our climb that that the 1st observation area was visible from rope so Brandon and I went down there to watch Mike descend. There was no hope of snapping a good picture from this vantage. We had a hard enough time spotting Mike at all. Only with my help were Brandon and Nate able to see the tiny, descending, red dot before he disappeared. We almost missed Tom entirely when he descended. I just barely glimpsed him before he disappeared behind the rock. Later, we spotted Mike hauling ass back up the rope. We retreated to the rappell site in time to hear Nate report that Mike was at the lip and Tom, who was ascending on a slower system, was 400’ below. The sawing, grinding motion caused by the frogger below him had aided Mike’s ascent. The image of our rope sawing and grinding over the hard granite crossed all our minds at one point or another that day.
After Mike climbed up, I socialized and then walked around in search of pictures. Upon my return, my photography services were requested by Brandon on rope. I rappelled down Nate’s 250’ rope to the lip and photographed Jeff’s descent. I could tell that Jeff was thoroughly enjoying himself. Brandon and Jeff must have shifted into overdrive on the way up because they flew up the rope in 45 minutes. Jeff kindly stood in place pretending to be wore out at the top of the cliff for me while I took a couple pictures. The de-rig went smoothly and we were soon escorting a couple girls off the mountain. Apparently, some freaky guy had been hiding in the bushes staring at them so they were glad to run into us. We re-grouped at the parking lot and began the drive to Marion’s.
After 1.5 hrs of very, very windy roads I was rather dismayed that we were pulling into McDonalds but was glad to hear from Jeff that there was a Subway across the street. Nate and I enjoyed the best cookies ever that evening. After dinner, we followed windy, hilly, and dark roads for what seemed an eternity before arriving at Marion’s. I’d been the curviest drive ever! Marion and Alan were both still up when we arrived. After a little socialization, everyone went to bed.
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Nate steps over the ledge exposing himself to 500' off freefall.
Some army helicopters fly by at nearly Nate level.
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Nate looks awfully small.
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Nate nears the bottom.
Almost there.
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Nate survives the death-defying rappel.
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Off Rope.
Time for some grub.
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Nate preparing to take a picture.
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Nate preparing to take a picture.
Crazy Climbers!!!
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Man, it's a long way down.
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Nate hangs suspended only by a tiny rope high above the treetops.
Looking out over the hazy valley.
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Here comes Nate.
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Nate's climbing in style. Nice shades.
Brandon patiently waited only feet from the 500' freefall for a chance to snap this picture.
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Yeah, Brandon is cool.
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Nate poses on a ledge high above the valley floor.
Nate poses on a ledge high above the valley floor.
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Brandon ascends back up to the top.
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Brandon ascends back up to the top.
The light was right so I started taking pictures.
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Too bad it's so hazy. Needed a polarizer.
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Beautiful Whitesides.
Hey, it's my shadow!
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Interesting shadows.
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Experienced adventurer, Jeff Moore begins his descent.
Jeff was happy to stall his descent for a few pictures.
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Jeff enjoys the view.
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Jeff descends the granite slope towards the freefall.
Jeff poses on rope.
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Jeff hangs hundreds of feet above the ground.
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Jeff slowly descends the freefall section of Whiteside.
Jeff slowly descends the freefall section of Whiteside.
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Jeff slowly descends the freefall section of Whiteside.
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Jeff slowly descends the freefall section of Whiteside.
Jeff slowly descends the freefall section of Whiteside.
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Jeff slowly descends the freefall section of Whiteside.
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Brandon pulls himself up to the top of the cliff.
Brandon and Jeff just completed a very fast bounce.
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Jeff pulls himself up over the lip.
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The mental and physical exhaustion are over.
It feels good to set foot on solid ground again.
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Jeff has every right to look tired. He and Brandon hauled ass us that rope.
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