Starting Up Rainbow Falls Left (WI4)

Rainbow Falls Left (WI4) is a short but steep pitch of ice located across the gully from Rainbow Falls Right. There are a couple of distinct lines on this formation. One climbs the right side of the ice with a lot of stemming possibilities between the various ice flows and columns (this picture). The second climbs straight up the left side with a somewhat awkward transition in the middle of the climb. The left side would be a lot harder to protect, and was pretty beat up when we climbed it (December 29, 2009). Chain anchors on top and to the left of the flow. Leavenworth, WA.