Delaware Water Gap, Mount Tammany, Triumvirate.

In August 2011 Triumvirate was my first multi-pitch climb. I followed (third) and cleaned both pitches behind leader Barry Rusnock and second Ashish Patel. Barry is an AMGA climbing guide with Riverview Outdoor Adventures. Ashish, my good friend and regular partner, is a BSA Climbing Instructor and sometimes works as an assistant alongside Barry.

Triumvirate is a Gap classic with a 5.4 PG rating. The first pitch is the longest and easiest section following a blocky ramp through large off-width weaknesses. The second pitch is a well-protected airy traverse. As you climb further to the left the exposure increases. The climb ends at a bolted rappel station which we descended with a two-rope rappel.

The actual climbing on Triumvirate wasn’t very difficult. The first pitch was more of a technical scramble but there’s definitely the danger of a bad fall on lead. The second pitch is much cleaner climbing with friendly horizontal cracks and excellent gear placements. If anything, the exposure and empty air space below the protruding rock of the traverse is the most difficult obstacle to overcome.

At the time, this was my first "climb of consequence". All of my climbing up until then had been short top-roping.  The length of this route is a little over 100 feet, much higher than my usual 30-50ft climbs.  I also had to deal with for the first time the technical aspect of belay stations and cleaning gear.  It was a fanstastic learning experience.