First Person Rock Climbing: "Soler" Pitch 1 (5.9), Devils Tower, Wyoming

[@albertlutton9920]

Lead this back in 1986. Fantastic climb!

[@rodgerraubach2753]

What a beautiful handcrack! I tried leading this back in 1984 after recovering from a broken ankle from 1983, but was just too much for my then condition. Then the weather turned bad and went back home to Casper. Sorry I never went back until 1986, and weather again bombed us out after doing the Durrance and Bailey Direct finish.

[@bradfordLburns]

Dang! I can't imagine climbing this with a recovering ankle, that would've been brutal!

[@tphill30]

Wow! this looks fantastic!

[@bradfordLburns]

It's a great route!

[@johndunbarwoods]

Nice lead!

[@bradfordLburns]

Thanks!

[@ClimbMitBourbon]

Lmao, I play this as ambient noise in the library

[@bradfordLburns]

I’m glad my breathing helps you study 😂😂

[@qrplife]

Are ”friends” used exclusively now or are stoppers and hex wedges still used for protection?

[@bradfordLburns]

I always carry a set of stoppers with me, and tey are especially useful on the Tower. I never use hexes any more, although I do have a rack of them. I'd say that I use "friends"/cams for 90% of my placements now because I have a lot of them, they are fast, safe, and bomber. I do love some good stoppers though.

[@qrplife]

@@bradfordLburns Thank you for the reply. I haven’t climbed since the 1980s and I don’t really see it my future at this point. But KZbin is a marvel, enabling you follow others who do things you are either not able or not inclined to take on yourself.

[@bradfordLburns]

@@qrplife I hear this a good bit from individuals - folks who used to climb or who have climbed these routes in the past who are grateful that they get to vicariously climb these routes again or experience climbing through me. I feel deeply grateful and humbled that I sometimes get to provide that for folks. Thanks for your comment, and for the support.

[@WallOfDis]

Monster pitch.

[@bradfordLburns]

5 ⭐️

[@wavecreatures]

Hell no.