Rich and Chris

The Incredible Hulk in the Sierras was easy to get to after negotiating an evil RV park.

Our first climb up the Red Dihedral was uneventful (despite simul-climbing a couple 5.8/5.9 pitches), but getting down proved to be quite a chore.

Positive Vibrations, the next day's more serious objective, was a fine climb with long sustained pitches. I somehow was put on lead on the loose 5.11a traverse with remotely located cams in a thin flake. The second 11a wasn't that pretty, but at least I didn't cry like Chris did. Despite this, we worked our way up 8 pitches and over 1000ft of climbing (top of pitch 7 per the guide) until hail and rain let loose. With lightning so close and rapidly falling body temperatures, we weren't quite sure how it was going to work out. After writing long good-bye love letters to wives and family, we promptly retreated down. 12 rappels, a fair amount of lost gear (coincidentally nearly all Chris'), 2 stuck ropes and 'less' rain and lightning, we made it to the ground to awaiting celebratory drinks. We left the next day with another bigger storm building.