Stella and Frank prepare for the approach to The Gong Show.
Stella and Frank prepare for the approach to The Gong Show.
Title
Stella and Frank prepare for the approach to The Gong Show.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at f/5.6
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 9:35:14 AM.
Bill crosses Rock Creek. Our first crux.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill crosses Rock Creek.
Title
Bill crosses Rock Creek.
Exposure
200, ¹⁄₆₀ sec at f/4.5
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
OLYMPUS CORPORATION E-M10 Mark III OLYMPUS M.14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II R
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 9:56:57 AM.
Stella crosses Rock Creek.
Stella crosses Rock Creek.
Title
Stella crosses Rock Creek.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₁₀₀ sec at f/3.2
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 10:07:02 AM.
Frank and Stella pause on a rock while Frank checks his GPS to see where our approach route continues.
Frank and Stella pause on a rock while Frank checks his GPS to see where our approach route continues.
Title
Frank and Stella pause on a rock while Frank checks his GPS to see where our approach route continues.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/5.6
Focal Length
74 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 10:47:18 AM.
Stella scrambles across a steep slope of scree and talus while wearing two packs. Getting to the base of the climbs is a major ordeal!
Stella scrambles across a steep slope of scree and talus while wearing two packs.
Title
Stella scrambles across a steep slope of scree and talus while wearing two packs.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/5.6
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 11:09:07 AM.
Frank and Stella return through the talus field wearing two packs. We decided it was too much trouble to scramble to the Lower Tier at The Gong Show. We were getting worn out scrambling on this stuff carrying two packs of gear before we even started technical climbing!
Frank and Stella return through the talus field wearing two packs.
Title
Frank and Stella return through the talus field wearing two packs.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/6.3
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 11:32:28 AM.
Frank uses our stickclip to place a draw at the lowest bolt.
Frank uses our stickclip to place a draw at the lowest bolt.
Title
Frank uses our stickclip to place a draw at the lowest bolt.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/6.3
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 12:37:42 PM.
Frank again uses the stick clip to place a draw at the next highest bolt. This allows Frank some degree of safety while climbing near the ground. As long as he's climbing below the highest draw he is essentially on "top rope".
Frank again uses the stick clip to place a draw at the next highest bolt.
Title
Frank again uses the stick clip to place a draw at the next highest bolt.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/6.3
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 12:39:25 PM.
Frank makes progress.
Frank makes progress.
Title
Frank makes progress.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/6.3
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 12:52:27 PM.
Frank gets past the crux while Stella keeps a tight rope.
Frank gets past the crux while Stella keeps a tight rope.
Title
Frank gets past the crux while Stella keeps a tight rope.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/6.3
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 12:54:07 PM.
Frank is now lead-climbing as he's above the highest draw. Fortunately, the climbing is easier here. But, where is the next bolt?
Frank is now lead-climbing as he's above the highest draw.
Title
Frank is now lead-climbing as he's above the highest draw.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/6.3
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 12:55:08 PM.
Frank continues higher.
Frank continues higher.
Title
Frank continues higher.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/6.3
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 12:57:50 PM.
Frank reaches the anchor bolts and sets up a top-rope anchor.
Frank reaches the anchor bolts and sets up a top-rope anchor.
Title
Frank reaches the anchor bolts and sets up a top-rope anchor.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₆₄₀ sec at f/5.6
Focal Length
81 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 1:01:36 PM.
Frank gets lowered after setting up the anchor.
Frank gets lowered after setting up the anchor.
Title
Frank gets lowered after setting up the anchor.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/5.6
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 1:08:18 PM.
Frank decides to down-climb while on the rope.
Frank decides to down-climb while on the rope.
Title
Frank decides to down-climb while on the rope.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at f/5.6
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 1:10:37 PM.
Bill starts up the climb. I don't get far, about as far as Stella got in the next photo.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill starts up the climb.
Title
Bill starts up the climb.
Exposure
200, ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/9.0
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
OLYMPUS CORPORATION E-M10 Mark III OLYMPUS M.14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II R
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 2:06:11 PM.
Stella gets the pinch on the left, but what to grab with the right hand? Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella gets the pinch on the left, but what to grab with the right hand?
Title
Stella gets the pinch on the left, but what to grab with the right hand?
Exposure
200, ¹⁄₂₀₀ sec at f/8.0
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
OLYMPUS CORPORATION E-M10 Mark III OLYMPUS M.14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II R
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 2:23:10 PM.
The Gong Show wall is at the top of a long scree and talus scramble. Argh! The red line shows where on the wall was the route we worked on. The Lower Tier is apparently off to the right of the photo, the wall there being higher above the creek, in spite of its name.
The Gong Show wall is at the top of a long scree and talus scramble. Argh!
Title
The Gong Show wall is at the top of a long scree and talus scramble. Argh!
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₁₀₀ sec at f/4.5
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 3:50:50 PM.
Stella crosses Rock Creek while Frank starts in the background.
Stella crosses Rock Creek while Frank starts in the background.
Title
Stella crosses Rock Creek while Frank starts in the background.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₈₀ sec at f/1.8
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 4:02:42 PM.
Stella and Frank return across Rock Creek for their second packs.
Stella and Frank return across Rock Creek for their second packs.
Title
Stella and Frank return across Rock Creek for their second packs.
Exposure
125, ¹⁄₁₀₀ sec at f/2.0
Focal Length
28 mm
Camera and Lens
SONY DSC-RX100 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
Datetime
Image captured on September 23, 2025 at 4:07:18 PM.
