Solo of Original Route on Whiteside

by Ted Anderson

When I soloed Whiteside I had no intention of free soloing the bolt ladder. So I took some slings and biners with me.

Doing the 5.9 crux lower down I backed off it twice. Then the third try it felt good, and I flowed right thru it. When I got to the end of this pitch, I sat on the ledge and smoked a little weed. The scariest part of the whole climb was stepping out of the slings at the top of the bolt ladder and back on to the rock. All the rest of the climbing was just very fun.

I had climbed the original route many times, I knew all the moves on it. I knew I could do it.

Then Bob Rotert went and free soloed it, including the bolt ladder. That was really impressive !!!