Moab 8 (2006)

Trey, Henry and Dan came down to Moab this Tuesday and joined up with Ron and I. We started off with Monitor Merimack - as per custom, and then did Bartlet Slickrock and Amasa Back.
After riding we've gone climbing twice so far. The first was a warm up on Potash Road (Wall Street). Dan and I went up the Fist Full Of Potash (5.10). Yesterday we drove out to Sunshine Wall and put up some top ropes on a nice slab with some 5.9s and 5.10s.

Climbing Photos

Wall Street climbing

Sunshine Wall Photos

Biking Photos

Moab IX. Ron, Henry, Trey, Dan and I riding Bartlet Slickrock, Monitor Merimack and Amasa Back.

More Biking Photos

Ron and I finished off Moab with a short trip around the Slickrock trail. Our bikes were complaining so we only did the practice loop and the S curve of the main trail. On our last day we went to the BMX track and emberrased ourselves.

Fruita

Ron and I just got into Moab after spending the weekend in Fruita, Colorado. We did a few days of biking and some climbing as well.

Climbing Photos

Ron and I climbing near Fruita in Colorado National Monument. I did my first 5.6 trad lead, which scared the shit out of me and maybe even Ron as I freaked out on him as well as myself on the wall.

Biking Photos

Smith Rock, Jami's Birthday

This weekend a bunch of us went over to Smith Rock to do some climbing, and celebrating Jami's 30th birthday. We just climbed on Saturday because Sunday it was raining and certain people were hung over.
On Saturday we did 5 and 10 gallon buckets for a warm up before heading over Asterisk Pass. Then there were five of us to do Spiderman Butress. Keevin did the lead climbing and we followed and placed gear as practice.
It ended up taking around 4 hours to do the three pitch climb. The weather changed from sunny and warm to hail, snow and wind. In the end we rappelled off the top to the first set of anchors and got Keevin's rope caught in the overhang. Apparently you're supposed to do the walkoff and not rappel. But we were tired, cold and hungry so we screwed that up. I was going to jumar up the rope and do the walkoff but Matt pointed out that now wasn't the time to try an untested technique. We bailed to get warm food and beer.

Photos

Traditional Climbing Gear

I just received my first bit of trad gear today. I've been wanting to do trad climbing (where you place your own protection) for a year now, but never got around to buying gear or going out and practicing. This weekend we're heading over to Smith Rocks for a friend's birthday so I will get my chance. I'm hoping that for the Moab trip in 2 weeks I'll be able to lead up some easy stuff with Ron.
I don't have a full rack, or even a partial rack, in fact this is pretty pathetic, but it's a start. I also bought a set of Black Diamond stoppers earlier at REI. I even have a few Yates Screamers for sketchy placement.

Olympic Penninsula

Last weekend I went up to the Olympic Penninsula with my buddies Matt, Keevin and Josh to do the Third Beach to Oil City Road hike. It is a very cool hike, 17 miles of rain forest and beaches. About half of the hike is on the beach and when crossing the headlands into the forest you take these steep ladders with ropes up and down. We had awesome weather, only 20 minutes of rain, the rest of the time was sunny and cool.
It turns out I'm still taking pictures with unlevel horizons. As my photos are now digital it's much easier to fix the horizon problem.

Photos

Green Card

After about 15 times not passing, I finally got my damn lead green card.

Mt. Hood Training

Today Matt, Keevin and I went up to Timberline Lodge to get in a little hike at altitude and practiceour basic snow technique. We went above Palmer almost to Illumation Rock, but it was blowing snow pretty hard, so we took off back down. We spent about 2 hours practicing self arrest, belaying on the snow and catching each others falls on rope. It was a pretty kick ass time.

As you can see from the pictures it got rough up there and Keevin had to save Matt on the 70 deg slope. But he got him, so don't fret.


Mt. Defiance #5

Last Sunday we did Mt. Defiance for the last time this season. Brynne came along, though I didn't see much of her as she and Keevin booked ass up the hill. They're insane.
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