"Finally back stateside after 10 weeks in Patagonia.
Our main goal was Riders on the Storm on the MASSIVE east face of the Central Tower. Unfornately a heavy snow fall winter had a huge snowfield covering the crux slabs, oh well. Lesson: you have to be flexible in Patagonia.

Hiked back around to the Silencio valley for a free attempt on via Delle Mamma on the shorter but beautiful west face. This line is 20 pitches of bottom to top splitter on awesome alpine granite. Unfortunately on our only weather window the bottom was cloaked in ice and snow. We gave it a go anyway and Hayden led the 5.6 first pitch with ice tools and approach shoes. Alpine climbing is fun but kinda scary to watch your homie going for it in the mountains! We ended up bailing after that pitch but the sky was still bluebird and the wind was mild. We changed plans and raced up the mixed climbing to the Col Bich to climb the Monzino route on Torre Norte. From the col we shortfixed and simuled to the summit in 56 minutes! What a cool route and a great day to be in Patagonia!

Now I'm getting psyched for the spring season in the Valley!"

-Aaron Jones