Topophilia

Sometimes the love of a place is so deep that even the less pleasant parts become endearing in their own special way. RMNP offered up all of its charms during the possible FA of Topophilia: rock plastered with powder snow, howling spindrift, more than a few loose blocks, and steep and mentally taxing climbing that just wouldn’t let up. On more than one occasion, I thought it just wasn’t gonna go, that I would have to somehow downclimb several tenuous moves to the last good pro and get the hell out of there, but every time I convinced myself to bump those feet up a little more, lock off on that lower tool a little harder, and scratch around under that powder snow a little higher, there it was: another pick placement just good enough to warrant moving upwards. It may not be a great route, but it was definitely a great full value experience.

The line follows a series of cracks and shallow chimneys angling slightly right and splits the face to the left of Necrophilia. One very long or more likely two shorter pitches will get you to the top of the first cliff band where you can traverse off or continue up. We opted for the former and found the lower half of Deep Freeze made for an efficient, two rappel descent.

Doubles on cams to 3 inches and stoppers. A few pins may be helpful, but we forgot them and managed.