Mt. Rushmore Part 2

My Computer is ALIVE!!

Here are photos and some more of the story.

 This was about 50 ft up on a little free solo I did the first night that I arrived at the Wrinkled Rock campground. It was a good thing that I did this cause it got my body ready to climb and it was good release from the 5 hour drive that day.

And of course I got ready with a chalk bag and shoes.













The next morning was when we left from this amazing view to drive to Custer State Park and climb the spires.

 (right) This was starting view that we had on the beginning of the trail from the parking lot.






(bellow) After about 10 minutes of hiking on the approach I was rewarded with this inspiring view of where we would be that day.

Here we broke off from the main trail on the lightly worn approach trail that showed the path that other climbers had walked before us.









(bellow) When we finished the approach we came to this little outcrop area with amazing view and out of this world features that made me feel like I was in the Lord of the Rings.

This was the second belay station which we used as the first belay station.






The view down the gully showing where we started to the second belay station.

It was Saturday so we took a Saturday summit selfie

Belaying Emily up the second pitch using the ATC in guide mode.

This was an entertaining note that I found in the register that was on the summit. It reads, "Gervase and Lev. Avg. age 75. Two old guys at the top of the hill — on a rope." I thought it was worth taking a picture.



















 This was the second panoramic picture that I took at the summit with my phone. I have blown it up on a TV and zoomed in and it captured amazing detail of the surroundings

So this was one thing that I didn't mention in my story post a week ago. It was extremely windy when we were at the summit because the rocks created a funnel effect, and it was cold. A member of our group was climbing Station 13 and decided to bale but most of his gear was still in the rock face. So this is me and Jay waiting, watching and talking to the others in the group during the gear rescue.