All Day Climbing, Alpine Desert / Pig Rock; Pyramid Lake, NV 12/17/19

Mid December I made a winter pilgrimage out to Pig Rock for my first time back in over 5years.  I was really excited to see this desolate unique spot again and see how well I remembered it.  Also this was my first time climbing with Justin Hight, Mesa Rim Front Desk co-worker and Reno local, so it was great to be with someone that was on a very similar level.  We spent a little over an hour driving out there to find the road was just as tricky as I remember it, do not try this in anything less than dedicated 4x4.  We were at the base by about 10AM with the sun just beginning to show up, we warmed up on Little Sheep Wall in the Contra Canyon, on an unnamed route that is described as "5.7, maybe 5.9, I don't know, weird but fun" 4Bolts 35FT, and yeah, next we climbed a slabby 5.8 all the way to left called Uncle Olly, 4Bolts 35FT.  We agreed Uncle Olly seemed like much better quality movement, could be 5.9 as well it was a little thin, but good moves including a fun little mantle.  We moved our anchor over to Waste of Time, a 35FT 5.10 that was missing bolts, so now its a top rope?  There was a crux section that Justin fumbled through but I managed to send it after about 10minutes of trying the move and down climbing to a rest over and over.

 

Later we hiked to the Contra Towers to discover what was available.  Little did we know ALL the climbing for this section is on the South side of the hill, and naturally we started from the far end of the North side, zig zagged through, then figured shit out.  There are a couple cool 5.10s as well as a stiff thin looking 5.12.  Justin lead a 40FT 5.10 4Bolts, called Tropic Sun that felt pretty hard for both of us, barring all the right beta, we bolt to bolted this route.  Now it was time to head back into Reno before Justin had his shift start at the desk.  We were thoroughly exhausted, being the old man I did not have work this day and instead I went home and went to bed!

Personal Review of Area : Rock/Climb Quality 4/10 - Size 2/10 - Accessibility 1/10
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