"Free Friends" history
A bit of history on the East Face of Chimney Rock some might find interesting. Chimney Rock sits at 7000 feet and at least an hour from your car on foot. There is no easy way in or out if things go badly. There has been at least one serious accident climbing (rock fall) on the face that was very close to fatal. The history that follows is how I remember the time and the place. I'm old now. This may or may not be historical fact. Darcy used to call me "the keeper of the rock". I never assumed it was intended as a compliment :) The route? Originally known as "Yellow Jacket" and far as I know never repeated on aid. It was eventually renamed "Free Friends" once climbed free. That took a good bit of doing over several years, by a number of climbers. Yellow Jacket, East face, FA, Jim Spearman- John Roskelley, 1970, originally rated III 5.7 A3 The 450-foot vertical east face was first climbed in 196...