My First Time in Squamish
I was visiting Montana and my friend Conor and I made a somewhat last-minute trip up to the town of Squamish for 4 days in June of this year. Such a beautiful place with some marvelous granite. Can’t wait to get back there.
Indian Creek Thanksgiving
Managed to get 8 days or so on the rock at Indian Creek over 2 long weekends and the week off for Thanksgiving. There were some cold nights but the days were marvelous.
Featuring a rescue of someone who fell a long ways and could have easily died along with me doing a first ascent and installing my first anchor ever. Richard got the first free ascent of the route (named ‘Pizza Party’) and said the anchor looked `perfect’. I was pleased.
Thanks to Richard, and Anna for the lovely company and all the climbing inspiration. They know how to get after it.
Climbing the Maroon Bells
This was in late September. The Maroon Bells are Maroon Peak and North Maroon peak. They are two of the 58 mountains in Colorado that are above 14 thousand feet tall. Thanks to Juddson for the plan.
Although we didn’t have ropes, I would call this a climb as there were quite a few places where you were on very steep terrain doing 4th and 5th class moves.
Climbing at City Of Rocks With Cole
After about 10 years of relative consistence, I have fallen out from making new posts. This is the first update covering any event from the last 2 years of my life. Since that time I’ve been living and teaching in Denver, CO.
The last several weeks I have taken two separate trips to the City of Rocks National Reserve, in southern Idaho. I had heard good things but never been. It is a sea of endless granite spires in the middle of nowhere. I thought it was awesome. These pictures are all from the first visit.
Climbing El Capitan
This took place last May. The original plan was to do the Muir Wall. We ended up spending 4 days climbing the lower part of the Muir Wall and then swung over to the Nose under the Great Roof. “The Triple Indirect”. We had some excellent weather and didn’t have to deal with any other climbers basically the whole time. A grand occasion.
Independence Monument
A casual 4-pitch romp via Otto’s Route in Colorado National Monument. First climbed by John Otto, a quintessential outdoorsman whose one (and only?) marriage lasted a few weeks. His wife is quoted as saying “I tried hard to live his way, but I could not do it, I could not live with a man to whom even a cabin was an encumbrance.”
Last Winter in Western NC
I felt like getting back to NC and having a roof over my head would make everything coherent. Didn’t quite work out completely as I planned. But what does, right? It was nice to see my family and be around the softness of the Appalachian Mountains.
Joshua Tree National Park
A few days in a otherworldly part of southern California last November. Thank you Valerie for arranging the accommodations and to your sister for allowing us to stay at her Airbnb spot.
Ancient Art
A few days later we headed out to climb a formation in the Fisher Towers called Ancient Art. It is probably one of the most popular desert towers in the world.
Moab Madness
This all took place in the middle of October. 5 days or so at Indian Creek with great people.
Jah Man
We drove from the La Sals down to Castle Valley to climb my second desert tower ever. Much warmer!
Fall Climbing in the La Sals
Two lovely days with cold nights reminding you of the oncoming winter.
Emily Harrington Free Climbing Golden Gate on El Capitan
Let only my skin, and sinews, and bones remain, and let my flesh and blood in the body dry up, I shall not permit the course of my effort to stop until I win that which may be won by human ability, human effort, and human exertion.
-Siddhartha
