cowo

Dru, is this line closer? upper (dashed) or lower (solid) line? the most interesting looking lines are on the NW headwall (out of view, its on the other side of the NW Ridge) - steep razor-cut corners OR mixed climbing up the crumbling dikes (hence you want it frozen) - short tho, a couple of pitches at most.

A note a long time in coming. If you go back into Vayu and you didn't get your fill on its NW Ridge, then head over to the north face of Peak 8800. Peak 8800 – north face Marcus and I simuclimbed and belayed over scree-covered ledges, solid blocks and short cracks to get up the 90m headwall. The angle eased as we packed the rope and scrambled along a 4th class arête that led directly to the summit. The route is a little more serious and not as exposed as Vayu’s NW Ridge, but combining the two routes makes for a decent day of romping in the mountains. The north faces of Vayu and Peak 8800 showing [1] NW Ridge (AD, low-5th, 330m, Knight-Rowbotham, 1995), [2] Bre-X Buttress (II, 5.8 A0, 7 pitches, Buda-Brayshaw, 1997 – not recommended), [3] North Face (AD, mid-5th, 250m, Dell-Wooldridge, July 3, 2005). Dru -- did I draw your route correctly on this photo? _______________________ Colin Wooldridge