West Temple, Back Where it All Begins. On April 10, John Rzyczecki and I started a new route on the southeast face of the West Temple. The route, Back Where it All Begins (VI 5.1 la A3), follows the obvious diagonal line up the center of the wall facing Springdale. We spent 12 days completing the route, rappelling on April 22. Eight nights were spent on the wall. The route involved 16 60-meter rope-stretching pitches with bolted belays. Eighty percent of the lower wall was great free climbing, with little aid necessary. Almost all of the last eight pitches required thin aid.

Drew Spaulding, unaffiliated