A photo I took of Earl Wiggins minutes before he made the first free solo ascent of the Russian Arete. We shared a bite to eat and had a few chuckles, then he took off. He beat me to the top! Circa 1975. <br> <br> Photo: Larry Hazlett.

All Locations > Colorado > Gunnison > Black Canyon of… > N Rim Routes > Aretes > Russian Arete (5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a)

A photo I took of Earl Wiggins minutes before he made the first free solo ascent of the Russian Arete. We shared a bite to eat and had a few chuckles, then he took off. He beat me to the top! Circa 1975.
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Photo: Larry Hazlett.

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Frosty on The Russian Arete. '87.

Erik Wellborn taking in the view up on the Russian Arete, climbed on April 29th 08. (pitch 2/3) Photo taken by Trask Bradbury.

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Larry Hazlett

Feb 24, 2018

“A photo I took of Earl Wiggins minutes before he made the first free solo ascent of the Russian Arete. We shared a bite to eat and had a few chuckles, then he took off. He beat me to the top! Circa 1975.

Photo: Larry Hazlett.”

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Nearby Photos

This is a beautiful place to climb! Looking up canyon from midway up the route.

Rock vs. Face in "The Black". Photo by Erik Wellborn.

Frosty on The Russian Arete. '87.

A photo I took of Earl Wiggins minutes before he made the first free solo ascent of the Russian Arete. We shared a bite to eat and had a few chuckles, then he took off. He beat me to the top! Circa 1975.
<br>

<br>
Photo: Larry Hazlett.

Erik Wellborn taking in the view up on the Russian Arete, climbed on April 29th 08. (pitch 2/3) Photo taken by Trask Bradbury.

Maybe too much info for an adventurous place like the Black. But this is how we approached and climbed the Russian Arete. Belays are approximate!

Ryan Deppen looking upstream from high on the Russian Arete.

A route overlay of Russian Arete.

Phil Wortman Leading the crux pitch.

A route overlay of Russian Arete.

Another river shot.

Wyatt starts up the final wide pitch.

Gibney pulling through the 5.9 rail road tracks.

Annotated route.

Russian Arete. Bailing off of this in the rain is not fun.

The Russian Arete starts just about 20-30 feet to the right of the obvious, detached pillar.

An exposed section just below the rim. This might be the low 5th mentioned in some route descriptions.

Looking at the Russian from the bottom of the SOB. The route follows the corner-chimney system out near the prow of the buttress.

Pitch 2. Fun stuff.

Pitch 5.

Looking up P2.

P3 (we linked this with 4).

Russian Arete, from the thankfully shady belay at approximately pitch 4-5. I'm just about visible at the top of the chimney near the skyline.

The arete is left of center and just right of the bright wall on the left of the photo. Despite the "The Russian Arete, you know, like Russian roulette." story, this may have been named, perhaps in part, due to the red rock.

Gunnison River.

Approach gully downstream from SOB.

SOB Gully.

Beta photo for the approach to Russian Arete.

Dreaded pegmatite.

Pitch 1 start.

Top of P6.

Pitch 3/4.

P7 (easier climbing to the right).

The upper arete. 600-800 feet of exposed 3rd/4th scrambling to the rim.

Final pile (class 3-4).

Stacked block pillar at the end of the roped climbing (the top of pitch 8).

Erik leading up the last real pitch of Russian Arete.<br>
This pitch had some wide flared sections but a great one nonetheless. Photo by Trask Bradbury.

Stephen on P1.

Death cookie near belay 4.