1. Home
  2. 2018 Trip Reports
  3. The Main Vein

The Main Vein

Statistics

  • Date - 02/08/2018
  • Elevation - 8,400'
  • Route - The Main Vein
  • Miles - 4.0
  • Elevation Gain - 2,000'
  • ACME Mapper - Link
  • CalTopo - Link
  • Partners - Kevin Smith, Brian Kooienga

Description

It had been ten years since Brian and I climbed in the South Fork of the Shoshone River.  On that trip trip in 2008, we climbed Bozos Revenge, Smoked Turkey, and Legg Creek.  We started this trip climbing a classic moderate route called The Main Vein.  There is a white band of rock near the upper pitch that gives the climb its name.  The first pitch was super thin, so we had to walk around and then rap back into the gully.  We hiked a bit farther up the canyon where Brian led pitch 1.  After some more hiking and ice bouldering, we made it to the huge upper ice flow which we broke up into two pitches.  Kevin led the lower half and then I finished the route to the top.  This was a great climb with amazing scenery that we all enjoyed immensely.  We drove back to the house in Cody, Wyoming we rented and cleaned up to go to the ice festival in town.

Photos

The Main VeinThe Main VeinThe top of pitch 1 was a thin shell ready to crumble.Kevin rappelling back into the gully above pitch 1.James rappelling back into the gully above pitch 1.Brian approaching the first pitch we climbed and he led.Pitch 2 was the first pitch we climbed.Kevin following pitch 2.Kevin finishing the steep section of pitch 2.The wind had created some interesting ice formations.James ice bouldering between pitches.Kevin and James approaching the final section of ice.The Main VeinKevin leading the lower section of pitch 3.Kevin nearing the top of his lead.Brian and JamesBrian finishing the upper section of the final pitch.Kevin finishing the upper section of the final pitch.Kevin at the top of the climb.Kevin and James hiking back out.