Alex Johnson climbed The Mandala (v12) this afternoon. She did the problem from the high-start that is standard now (off pads with right hand in the undercling). This follows pretty much the same sequence used by Chris Sharma on the FA in 2000, beginning with a huge burly span from the undercling and some big pulls on small but positive crimps. Unlike Sharma, she only cut her feet near the top.
The snow is all over the boulders and a foot deep or more across the hillside, and the road in is like a sleigh run, but some determined folks have still been getting after their Buttermilk projects! Alex Johnson, battled through the ice and slush this past week or so, to enjoy nice cool conditions on Haroun & the Sea of Stories (v11/12), which she succeeded on after a few days work. Arriving Jan 3rd, and planning to stick around for January and February, Alex also managed Stained Glass (v10) and is looking at some of the harder and maybe higher lines to see what might be next. It promises to be a pretty amazing season here at the 'Milks for Alex.
Alex Johnson writes more about this on her blog.
