This is Miguel's, my home right now. In the back, there's a huge tent city of climbers. In the parking lot, I'm probably one of at least a dozen people sleeping in cars. It can be a crazy party on the weekend, but the great thing is it's almost all people with at least one common interest: climbing.
Friday, I hiked around, and messed around on this awesome boulder. I love this boulder on so many levels...you look at it up close and it is fascinating and beautiful rock. You look at it from a distance and it is a fun, pocketed face to climb on. The bottom was easy (think 5.5), but the top-out moves were committing. I didn't want to break an ankle, so I didn't try them.I forgot to bring my camera Saturday. One of the guys I coimbed with is supposed to send me some pictures. Hopefully, he will.
This is Mr. Bungle, a kind of fun 5.8 bolted route up the arete, and one of the two climbs I did (and the only one I led) on Sunday (a cold, wet, ugly day).
This is Mike and Dillon, two of the guys I climbed with Saturday and Sunday.
This is me on To Defy The Laws Of Tradition (5.10a), the other route I climbed on Sunday.
This is just cool. :-) I love the rock here. It's fascinating to look at as well as too climb.Monday was a lovely, warm, sunny day, and I climbed with some really great folks from Michigan.
This is Five Finger Discount, a cool 5.8 trad route that Doug and I led (Grace's head in the corner).We did a few other climbs at Roadside Crag, and a couple of climbs at Emerald City.
Tuesday, I went to Bruise Brothers Wall at Muir Valley with Doug's friend Matt and a couple friends of his. I forgot my camera again. I also regretted not bringing my trad rack as there were a couple decent looking trad routes I missed out on. Oh well, I had fun anyway, despite the constant threat of rain all day. At least it never quite materialized.
Today was a rest day. I drove to Winchester for shopping and oil change fun.
Now to see if I can find someone to climb with tomorrow. If not, I'll have a full weekend with Eric, Jeff, and Bev visiting anyway.....
Route List For Saturday - Tuesday:
- Slow Jack (5.7 Trad) (Onsight)
- Norway On My Mind (5.8) (TR clean)
- Broken Chicken Wing (5.9 trad) (TR clean)
- On The Prowl (5.10a) (TR clean)
- Greenhorn (5.11a) (TR)
- Mr. Bungle (5.8) (Onsight)
- To Defy The Laws Of Tradition (5.10a) (TR)
- Crazyfingers (5.10c) (TR)
- AWOL (5.10a) (TR)
- Five Finger Discount (5.8 Trad) (Onsight)
- Motha (5.6 Trad) (Onsight on all tri-cams!)
- Yellow Brick Road (5.11b) (TR)
- The Shining (5.8+ Trad) (TR clean)
- Little Viper (5.10a) (TR clean)
- Critters On The Cliff (5.11a, but not really...) (TR clean)
- Rat Stew (5.10a) (TR clean)
- Workin' for the Weekend (5.10c, but not really....) (TR clean)
- Send Me On My Way (5.9-, but maybe more 8ish) (Onsight)
- Rising (5.11a) (TR)
Posts
Are the numbers difficulties, funsticks out of 7, or something else?
ReplyDeleteIt is awesome the number of routes and exploring you have done in your first week Geoff! I can't wait to hear more about the adventure. Keep the blog thing up and let us keep living vicariously through you. Here is the blog that I told you about....
ReplyDeletehttp://quitjobhitroad.blogspot.com/
The numbers are difficulties. The 5 before the dot is meaningless (well, it means it is a technical free climb, but, otherwise, it is meaningless). The number after the dot ranges from 1 to 15 or so (currently), and can have an a, b, c, or, d, or maybe a + or - after it, which are modifiers to the difficulty. Most people, without training, can get up a 5.5 on top-rope. I guess that's it in a nut-shell. Ratings are subjective and an vary wildly.
ReplyDeleteGeoff, glad to see you are having lots of fun. I can't believe you started your Journey with Kentucky. All those wise cracks from you for years about Kentucky...hmmm. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed Winchester, my childhood hometown. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing those awesome pictures! It seems as if you've been busy and having fun!!! I bet it feels good.
ReplyDelete