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All Locations > New Mexico > Albuquerque Area > Sandia Mountains > La Cueva Canyon… > Yataghan > Happy Gnome (5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c)
Bill climbs above the standard P2 belay alcove on our extended second pitch, which we finished at the much preferred tree (and adjacent piton/slung block) belay, otherwise passed mid traverse on P3.
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This small tree (and adjacent piton/slung block), passed mid traverse on P3 makes a nice alternate belay. I combined P2 and P3 to this tree as my P2, then from here to the tree atop P4 as my P3 - rope drag was slim and visibility was great across pitches.
Excellent exposure a little more than halfway up the final pitch. The white sling next to the tree below is clipped to the second of two fixed pins on the pitch.
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Ryan Price
May 3, 2020
“Bill climbs above the standard P2 belay alcove on our extended second pitch, which we finished at the much preferred tree (and adjacent piton/slung block) belay, otherwise passed mid traverse on P3.”  

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Approximate route: 5.9 variation shown in red
Bill sends the stellar P4 crux (5.8+) traverse.
This small tree (and adjacent piton/slung block), passed mid traverse on P3 makes a nice alternate belay. I combined P2 and P3 to this tree as my P2, then from here to the tree atop P4 as my P3 - rope drag was slim and visibility was great across pitches.
Bill climbs above the standard P2 belay alcove on our extended second pitch, which we finished at the much preferred tree (and adjacent piton/slung block) belay, otherwise passed mid traverse on P3.
Excellent exposure a little more than halfway up the final pitch. The white sling next to the tree below is clipped to the second of two fixed pins on the pitch.
View up from the dead tree of the P4 roof, with piton below and anchor tree just above.
The 5.10b Prandoni/McFarland variation (described by George below) ascends this arching corner and roof to the right until rejoining the route below the tree anchor. The 2 pitons mark another variation that traverses the face before ascending to the roof.
View down from P2 showing the location of the bolt marking the belay ledge atop P1 (The bolt is not obvious from the climbing route up the central dihedral).
Looking back across the P4 traverse from the dead tree below the roof.
Piton midway up P1
Daniel A. Working the undercling traverse on pitch 4 standard route.
Chuck leading the 5.9 variation of pitch 4.

In This Photo
Bill Lawry
Albuquerque, NM