On Saturday, we climbed Crack Kingdom, a link up of routes on the left side of Cardinal Pinnacle. On the way down we toproped The Prow - wow, that thing is as amazing as it seems on pictures! The initial "boulder problem" crux doesn't appear to have gear nearby, made me wonder how exactly people lead this thing. The 5.12 crack is, in comparison, straightforward (but very hard!) We finished off with V8 Crack, which is also a 5-star splitter. I found the beginning quite hard and barely scraped by without falling, but green camalots are my nemesis crack size.

On Sunday we went back there and did the West Face, which is quite amazing in its own right (and also snuck in the crux pitch of Cucumbers). We left early as we had a long drive home, with a quick stop at the Whoa Nellie for a delicious dinner. The smoke was quite bad around Coleville/Walker, but cleared completely once we hit Tahoe. The winds are constantly shifting and directing smoke as they please..

	The truck at 9,300' - the parking spot for Cardinal Pinnacle	I hope you like talus, because there is tons of it!	There was a little smoke blowing over the mountains - but nothing compared to around Lee Vining/further north

	Sharp Sierra granite - sweet	Looking down from the base of the climb. It only takes 15-20 mins to go up the talus, but it's not the most pleasant!	Getting ready at the base - it was pretty chilly in the shade

		V8 crack splits this wall.. amazing (we did it at the end of the day)	Karen on pitch 2 of Crack Kingdom

	Short offwidth on pitch 2 of Crack Kingdom. Turns out the offwidth is fairly easy - the crux is the flaring bulge above (very awkward!)	About to enter the 'battle of the flare' (5.10b)	The amazing pitch 3 of Crack Kingdom - 5.10c

	The roof on the right is super fun. Airy 5.10 with good holds! And the heavenly finger crack that follows is the crux..	Looking down at the initial corner of pitch 3 #throughglass	Over the roof. What follows is an amazing 5.10c finger crack (out of the photo)

	Pitch 4. Super thin flake (5.10b, but do not fall)	Beautiful view from Cardinal Pinnacle	The "hamlet" of Aspendell as seen from the summit of Cardinal Pinnacle. Bishop way down in the distance..

	Rappelling down Cardinal Pinnacle. #throughglass	Looking down The Prow, 5.12b finger crack - WOW!	Looking up at the finger crack of The Prow, 5.12b. We toproped it shortly after - AMAZING!

	Leading V8 Crack, 5.10d. #throughglass	Karen on the crux moves of V8 Crack	Nearing the top of V8 Crack

	Starting up the West Face on Sunday morning	West Face start	Higher on the first pitch

	V8 Crack as seen across from the base of Cardinal Pinnacle. How can you resist such a splitter?	Starting the 2nd pitch of the West Face - it starts with an amazing hands splitter in a corner, and only gets better. Cocaine for climbers!	Looking up at the end of the 2nd pitch of the West Face. Super fun moves right & around the arete - secure climbing, lots of air!

	Karen on the 3rd pitch of the West Face, also a sweet pitch!		Sunday was much less smokey

	Beautiful!		Endless talus below

	The money pitch on Cucumbers, or Cukes, which we toproped quickly	Karen linking pitches 3 & 4 (mostly, we stopped at a different belay to lower onto Cukes)	In the short 5.8 chimney on the West Face

	Smokey drive home!	The sun is not supposed to be this color..