The Pencil
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• Statistics:
  • Date Hiked:  December 23, 2007
  • Miles Hiked:  1.0 (Estimate)
  • Elevation Gain:  500' (Estimate)
  • Hiking Partner(s):  George Barnes
  • Routes:  WI4-4+ (5 Pitches)
• Description:
  • George and I went back to Vail (CO) to climb "The Pencil".  The wind and blowing snow on the interstate was strong and the weather was bad, but it ended up being relatively nice in Vail.  We didn't see another ice climber all day on a weekend.  George led the "Spiral Staircase" and then brought me up.  Our opinion was that it currently deserves a WI4 rating.  We then scrambled up to the cave where "The Pencil and Eraser" form.  Oddly enough a third pillar had also touched down between the two that normally form.  I guess we informally named it "Lead".  We top roped "The Pencil" and made a couple of runs.  We took a break in the cave to eat and drink and practice making V threads on an ice bulge.  I'm fairly certain George had more fun playing the tuba on his than actually making it.  We made a couple more runs, rapped down the "Spiral Staircase", and took a ride down the alpine slide for a quick descent.  The beer was once again cold and traffic wasn't too bad.
• Maps:
  • No map available.
• Photographs:
  • Spiral Staircase
  • The Pencil (1)
  • The Pencil (2)
  • Starting up the slushy side of The Pencil.  I'm fairly certain George wanted me to pose here not for a good shot, but just to see how long I'd stay there and how much ice would form up on me.
  • Halfway up The Pencil.
  • George near the top of the climb.
  • Looking out from the cave towards the center pillar of ice.
  • Looking up at the ice tentacles.
  • The Pencil, Lead (?), and Eraser
  • Another photo of three ice pillars.
  • It actually took George a while to get the hammer off his tongue.
  • A parting shot of the ice above the Spiral Staircase.
  • The Pencil is barely visible in this photo from across the interstate.  It is in the very center of the picture and is very small when compared to the Rigid Designator.
  • A close-up of The Pencil from the Vail Valley.

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