(Click on the photos to enlarge the pictures to see the climber leading out.) Matt Horner grabs first ice ascent of "Upper Partition", 5.8, on Giant Washbowl.
Matt Horner, with partner Jonas Morelli, rappelled down the Weissner Corner, Sat., Dec. 14, from the top of Giant Washbowl Cliff in Keene Valley, NY. to reach the base of the Upper Partition corner (rated a steep 5.8 in summer). Horner then led back up the thin ice with bomber rock gear obtained by excavating ice out of the crack in the corner. According to staff at The Mountaineer in Keene Valley, Morelli said he was unable to cleanly follow Horner's lead when the sun came out for 10 minutes and the ice became too unstable and detached to climb on.