More on the Compressor Route

So I checked out of the net for a few days and scored classic surf with Mark and Susan Robsinson and Randy Leavitt "somewhere west of Goleta." We talked a lot about the Compressor Route news about which I posted last week, and I return to find even more amazing and breaking news from Cerro Torre — David Lama apparently free-climbed the Compressor Route, there was a "lynch mob" in El Chalten angry over the bolt-chopping, and more than 500 posts were added to the Supertopo thread.

I've got to process and ponder all this. In the meantime, I'll post some of my best photos taken on the Compressor Route.

Jim Donini climbing toward the Col of Patience, the beginning of our attempt on the Compressor Route with Stefan Hiermaier that failed on the Compressor itself

Me on the headwall close to the end of that attempt, just before Donini told Stefan: "Survival is not assured."

Charlie Fowler low on the route, above the Col of Patience

Charlie jumaring

Charlie Fowler at the start of the Ice Towers

Charlie Fowler in the Ice Towers

The headwall

Charlie Fowler at sunrise, after our summit bivy

The summit mushroom at sunrise