As Brian passed me he complimented me on the climbing so far: "Nice changeover."

To which I replied: "It was the only changeover."

We both laugh.

"How did you like placing your first piece of gear in anger?" Brian asked, referring to a tree I'd slung about two-thirds of the way up the approach pitch.

"You mean my only piece of gear?" I respond.

More laughs.

Brian: At the time we thought we were moving at a pretty good clip. And we were. Neither of us dawdled on our way up but the way to do that approach fast is to either solo or simulclimb. Soloing was out and neither of us felt comfortable w/ simulclimbing at the time. Given a 2nd chance I would though.

Me too. No argument here.

Brian: After about 4-1/2 pitches we finally reached the Y-shaped tree that marks the beginning of Hitchcock Gully proper. We sat down for a bit and got something to eat and drink. I broke out the rest of the rack (rock gear) and then we had a peek at what was to come.