Mexican Big Wall Climbing With Honnold and Stanhope
Altus Guide Paul McSorley just returned from a great session down in the Mexican Big Wall mecca of El Gran Trono Blanco last week. The team consisted of ace photographer Andrew Burr and young rock masters Will Stanhope and Alex Honnold. Our crew managed three ascents of the highly featured granite monolith with Will and Alex freeing the Pan Am and El Giraffe routes at V 5.12+ and V 5.13 respectively. Alex and Paul threw a speedy lap (ca. 5 hours 30 minutes) up the Pan Am route and added a more direct two pitch finish of spicy 5.10 and 5.11 that avoids the regrettably vegetated via normal. Though only a few hours from the US border, this place has a really remote and isolated feel that makes climbing here a real plaisir.
Bigwall Banditos: Stanhope, Honnold and Burr throwin' gunz
Sunrise on the Sierra de Juarez
Will Rappin' the Giraffe
Burr on the Giraffe Roof
Honnold topping out the Pan Am
Pitch one of the Giraffe Libre Willy tacking 5.11 cornerwork
Climbers at left on the Giraffe, the Pan Am is the obvious system on the right
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Altus mountain guides is a group of motivated professionals dedicated to providing our clients with outstanding quality in the mountains with safe adventurous trips. From our base in Squamish and Whistler BC we provide you access to the most amazing mountain experiences the West Coast has to offer. Our exciting itineraries showcase the Coast Range but reach beyond to the interior ranges of the Selkirkʼs and Purcellʼs and onto the Rockies. We also offer trips internationally from the historic and classic European Alps to the windswept wilds of Patagonia.