Tom Adams on Storm Mountain Falls.
A cold holiday found Storm Mountain Falls in decent shape. Having already climbed Storm Mtn a few times, I decided to try the mixed line into the chimney on the left with Tom Adams. Previously unrecorded, this line has undoubtedly been climbed as evident by the many pitons leading right into it. The chimney is completely hidden unless you go up the hillside to the left to look into it.
The Left Chinmey with Storm Left on the right. Storm Mountain Falls proper cannot be seen in this photo.
Starting to just to the left of Storm Left, the route followed natural weaknesses with ok pro and lots of fixed pins along the way. I had hoped top go straight up through a narrow runnel of ice but my first swing separated the ice from the wall. Heading left to a nice handcrack I found another piton and a good line of hooks for the tools. The traverse right to the chimney was a little unprotected but not too difficult. The chimney was barely wider than our bodies and super fun to climb.
Nikki Smith reaching the ice in the chimney of Storm Mountain Left Chimney. Photo ©Tom Adams
They chimney is about 20' of narrow ice then ramps out onto the face above. Another 30' of traversing on icy blobs leads to a short down climb to the bolted anchors of Storm Mountain Falls.
Tom Adams nearing the anchors of Storm Mountain Falls - Left Chimney
The view from the top of Pitch 1. Photo ©Tom Adams
Having already climbed the upper pitches we decided to just rap from here but you can link this into pitches 2 and 3 of Storm Mountain Falls for a longer outing.
Nikki Smith rapping off the top of P1, Storm Mountain Falls. Photo ©Tom Adams
#3. Storm Mountain Falls - Left Chimney WI4 M4 *
160'. Singles to #3 and screws.
FA: Unknown
#2. Storm Left WI4 M4 *
#1. Storm Mountain Falls WI4+ ***