Ruth Gorge, Peak 7,400', Optimist, Mt. Church, My Friends Forever
Alaska, Alaska Range
Author: Hiroshi Hagiwara.
Climb Year: N/A.
Publication Year: 2011.
Giri-Giri Boys Kazuaki Amano (leader), Ryo Masumoto, and Takaai Nagato established two new routes in the Ruth Gorge. On April 18-19 they climbed the Optimist (950m, 22 pitches, AK Grade 4, 5.9R M6), on the west face of Peak 7,400'. On April 25-26 on the north face of Mt. Church they established My Friends Forever (1,100m, 17 pitches, AK Grade 4, AI4+ M6R), named for their friends Tatsuro Yamada and Yuto Inoue, who died on Denali two years earlier.
Hiroshi Hagiwara, Rock & Snow magazine, Japan, based on communication with Amano
Media Gallery
The north face of Mt. Church: (1) For Whom the Bell Tolls (Bracey-Helliker, 2009). (2) Amazing Grace (Clapham-Pike, 2009). (2a) My Friends Forever (Amano-Masumoto-Nagato, 2010). (3) Memorial Gate (Ichimura-Sato-Yamada, 2007).
Climbing on the Optimist, the new route on the west face of Peak 7,400'.
Climbing on the Optimist, the new route on the west face of Peak 7,400'.
The west face of Peak 7,400': (1) Bibler-Klewin (appx; 1989). (2) Optimist (Amano-Masumoto-Nagato, 2010), which likely shares the upper ridge with (1).
Starting up the new route on Mt. Church.