Started at 6:24 pm. From Chautauqua, hiked pretty easy up to the base of the First (17:47). From the base, I hiked up to the right, under the fallen tree, to the easier start on the north side. Changed shoes then started up. Climbed the East Face Gully. Sort of got onto the right wall of the gully for a bit when the gully looked smoother and more polished. Not sure it was any easier where I went, though. Got back into the gully after a bit and worked my way up to the last (easy) exit option on the left before reaching the North Arete. A bit of trickier scrambling leading up to this exit. Exited the gully there, up past the Route Junction Knob, and on up to the North Arete. Followed that to the top (about an hour). Rapped off. Then jogged down (1:31:17).
Lots of crampon scratches in the gully and on the rock leading up to the gully. Folks have obviously been hitting the ice on the route over the winter.
Was shocked to see a dude riding a mountain bike up the Chautauqua trail on my way down. Not sure if he was clueless or just a rebel. My guess was the former.
StreakNavyA
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