Witters-Yeatts Crack

This is the original route to the technical summit of Tarryall Tower; probably the easiest way to the top. The biggest pitons available in 1967 were 1/2" ring angles so the hand crack crux had to be done as a long run-out.

Tarryall Tower. Photo by Loraine Yeatts.

Dick went up first and tried the left of a pair of cracks. It was too rotten, so Bob led through, and jammed the right hand crack with little protection. up the right crack. One of the photos shows Dick Yeatts belaying in the left crack and Bob Witters starting up his lead to the top.

First ascent climber. Photo: Loraine Yeatts.

This route does not climb out of the notch. It starts down a bit left, in the shade.

Bob mentioned that the crack was too wide for the pitons he had, very run out jamming. Today's gear might make this route much safer and probably doable in one long lead.