Which way's up? Is up real? Or is it all relative?

All Locations > Colorado > Alpine Rock > San Juans > Grenadiers > Vestal Peak > Wham Ridge (5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c R)

Which way's up? Is up real? Or is it all relative?

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Looking south toward the Needles from the summit of Vestal ....

Brian Hansen (l) and Parker Newby, Wham Ridge, 1982.

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Phil Lauffen

Dec 12, 2008

“Which way's up? Is up real? Or is it all relative?”

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Nearby Photos

On the hike up to Vestal.

Vestal Peak and Wham Ridge as viewed from the Northeast Rib of Arrow Peak. West Trinity is the nearest peak in the background.

Wham Ridge.

Summit view looking east.

Super fun scrambling on solid rock is the name of the game on Wham Ridge. July, 2010.

Camped below the Vestal

Vestal/Wham Ridge and Arrow Peak.

There is a solid, cairned trail from Vestal Basin up to the base of Wham Ridge that passes near the large snow patch in this photo. This trail will save you a lot of time in each direction vs heading out left and up the ridge.

Here is a little history. Pictured is Carroll Groeger and her husband, Ted Keller, with Vestal Peak in the background. Carroll is the daughter of Werner Schnackenberg, one of the FAs.

Sunrise light hitting the tip of Vestal Peak.

The Colorado State Flower on Arrow looking towards Wham Rdg on Vestal

Looking south toward the Needles from the summit of Vestal ....

Which way's up? Is up real? Or is it all relative?

Brian Hansen (l) and Parker Newby, Wham Ridge, 1982.

Diana topping out on our last belayed pitch.

Alexa declares her conquering of Vestal!

Wham Ridge.

Wham Ridge. With Nathan Smith doing something.

Looking down from near the top of Wham Ridge on Vestal (2000).

Diana and Meredith short-roping on the upper, broken face.

First light on the Wham.

Looking down from near the top of the face

The Wham Ridge with the north ridge of Arrowhead in the distance.

Brian Gaschler leading his block. Wham Ridge, Vestal Peak.<br>
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Photo by Orin Salah

Scott on bullet quartzite, with surprisingly few gear options, a few hundred feet above the highest grassy ledge

Unknown climbers on Wham Ridge.

Hanging out on the summit.

John and Lori approach the second belay ledge (we roped up at the notch to the right of the two big boulders in the lower right of the picture)

Somewhere in the middle.

Cruisin' up the Wham.

Clouds moving in early on Vestal Peak. Taken from Vestal Lake.

Starting up Wham Ridge.

The view up the face from the end of the grassy ledge.

Looking down Wham Ridge from the top of the face. Vestal Lake is on the right. Vestal Creek in the Lower Meadow is visible far below.

Hiking across the face on the highest, grassy ledge.

The Wham Ridge on Vestal Peak.

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