VERTIGO DIHEDRAL

Dudley shot this one of me in 1974 while hanging from the lip of the Vertigo overhang, about where I am in the next picture, a very airy place! Larry Hamilton is belaying me and I have just finished the crux section. The colors Dudley captured are SO Eldorado.

When I was 15, in 1966, I followed this pitch free after Pat Ament led it. This was the first free ascent of the original Vertigo line. We rated this pitch 5.10 (although my climbing log says 5.9+), which was considered the highest conceivable grade at that time - 5.11 did not exist in anyone’s mind. Levin’s guide gives it a modern rating of 5.11b, though I think it’s gotten harder as micro-footholds have broken off. It is a VERY popular route today.