Citadel Climb - Pinnacles National Monument

Over the past few years, I have been blessed with people in my life who have all sorts of gear to take me on amazing adventures.  My good friend Thom has accumulated climbing gear over the years - and is nice enough to share it with people like me!

On Sunday morning, myself, Jacob, and Thom met in Toro Park at Thom's house to head up to Pinnacles National Monument.  After a long, rocky, and slippery hike to the bottom of the climb, we started our adventure!  Thom started the lead up the first pitch, set an anchor, and belayed myself and Jacob up after.  (It was Jacob's first time climbing).  We completed four pitches in total - the third of which started at an anchor with no ledge at all, so we were literally standing at an angle while we were tethered in - after a few short minutes, this position become very uncomfortable!!

We were able to walk around at the very top of the climb, eat lunch under a manzanita bush, and even throw some rocks off the side to see if we could hear them land at the bottom (and we couldn't).

Here's a picture from the top of the climb - 

And me after the climb - we went to the very top!