Just got down from climbing the Zodiac the day before yesterday, it was amazing, took 2 1/2 days which was much faster than we expected. Fixed first 4 pitches had a rest day then got up at 4am and jugged up our fixed lines. that day we climbed 5 pitches to below the nipple pitch. the climbing was never that hard a bit tricky in places.
Neil had the black tower pitch which could prove to be nasty if you took a fall as you would land on the tower and then roll off if.

The hauling was hard as well as the bag weighed about 50 kilos. That night was swett set the porta ledge up and chilled out listening to music and taking in the amazing views.

The next morning took forever to get sorted out then i set off on the Nipple pitch which was amazing lots of inverted cam hook moves in a row, as it said in the topo "wild" and it was.

All went well from there we spent another nyt on peanut ledge and toped out in the afternoon the next day, a bear was at the top to greet me which was nice.

we where very very smelly.

We did the Zodiac in the hope that it would give us and idea of what the Shield would be like, in a sense it was a training climb. Altho we knew it would be a step up in Aid we where confindent we could climb it.

Neil cleaning the Nipple pitch.

At the Top. Just after i was greeted by a bear.

Yosemite update

All is good in the valley, did 10 days after on Washington Collum wich took 3 days and that was going nice and slow just taking it easy. 13 pitches in all c3 or A2 but with a pitch of A3 portaledge was great. the hauling on the last few pitches was a nightmare anf the bag out stuck a few time.

Above Chilling on the ledge after a hard day, and Neil cleaning the first pitch.

The walk down was epic as well cos we didn't really eat enough on the whole climb so where totally knacked for the walk down.

Second pitch, we went up the first 2 pitches of the Prow to avoid the often wet first 2 pitches of 10 days after.