The Black Hills

Earlier in the week, Kendra and I climbed in the needles in South Dakota. Very awesome place if you have never been!

We wanted to climb some old Conn routes. One of the routes that we choose to do was this; http://mountainproject.com/v/south_dakota/custer_state_park/outlets/105714734
The Conn Diagonal. If you know anything about Trad routes put up in the 50's, 5.7 can be scary, and NOT 5.7. Well, needless to say, we didn't do the whole route....when we thought we did. We did a bit of a variation of the route.

We started in the chimney to the far left of the face and traversed the whole ledge! We didn't have a guidebook with us as we were out for an adventure. So, that traverse is scary, exposed and super fun all at the same time. It is 1/2 way between climbing, crawling, sliding, and holding on for dear life. I lead the whole route and it was quite a ride. You should ask Kendra sometime for her thoughts on the route....and she was only following.

I will post some pics soon

CLIMB UP

Be there! or go and do something else, but don't just sit on your ass!

Really Really ridiculously good looking

A week ago Karen, Greg, Kendra and I climbed Grey Waves;
http://mountainproject.com/v/international/north_america/canada/105933053
Fun line, will do it again anytime!





Kendra leading the first pitch of a 5 pitch route. It was all bolted and with fun roof moves to climb on two of the pitches, it made for a nice evening after work. The haze in the background is the smoke pouring over the range form the fires in BC. There was smoke all the way into Calgary last week, I am happy it is gone now!

I can see your Tetons from here

A few weeks ago I spent a just over a week in the Tetons. This photo is of Polly, from SLC climbing the 4th pitch of the Lower Exum. A group of 5 of us attempted the complete Exum ridge car to car. We got shut down by wet rock and ice on the route. The night before it snowed about 2-4cm on the mountain and made the ledges icy and the faces wet. We bailed off climbers left to on a ledge system that takes you to the start of Wall street.

Check out some of Matt's photo's here;
http://s240.photobucket.com/albums/ff76/LawnmowerBeer/I%20can%20see%20your%20Tetons%20from%20here/?start=all
Earlier in the week a group of 5 of us, Three "Cheesedicks" and 2 "FIBs" made the top of the Grand via the Direct Petzodlt ridge. The route was super fun with the cruxes no harder than 8. I led the first three pitches, Adam from Chitown lead the rest of the ridge, then we unroped to the top via the upper Exum.

happy to be on the top and done with the last belay...

Kendra and I one top of her first Mountain.

It was cold.

N. Face of Athabasca

The other day Kendra and I climbed a classic North Face route in the Canadian Rockies, one of my most favorite mountain ranges. This was my "4th" attempt at this peak, weather shut use down twice and another party of 4 the on the first attempt.

Kendra and I climbed a variation of the classic route. We took the obvious line in the center of the picture. The original line was the snow covered rock ramp to the right. I think it went at WI 4- M4, My first ice lead of the new season! AWESOME

Old pic from the Tetons-Aug 2009

Open book, a fantastic route on Disappointment peak. A must do if you want to do some craging in the range. It goes at 6 or 7 pitches, with the crux @ a solid 8.

DL, before the rain

Was a good day today climbing on the west bluff in new places that I havent climbed before. We went to the the west end and Hollywood & Vines area. I tyred to lead a nice but short 10a. Couldn't figure out the last move on lead, but managed to fire it on the next try on TR. Burt finished the lead to put up the rope. If I ever go back, I will have to resend it on the sharp end.

Scarpa shoe Demo

Scarpa and 5.10 shoe demo this friday @ Boulders climbing gym. 5pm till close.

Check it out, Nic will be there, and that will be worth the drive!

Marmot S'11 sneek peak

Something that I saw a month ago, a new sleeping bag collection coming from Marmot. A 15 and 30 deg 900 fill sleeping bags. The 15 deg is under 2 pounds with a full side zip, very cool! I want one NOW!!!

We also have some new very light weigh H20 Proof jkts and pants, some cool new tents(and colors!?!) and some new SS jtks to round out a great Spring Line.