Peak Bagging

In a couple of days the Peak a Week club is heading up to Albion Basin to attempt Devil's Castle. It is an easy hike, only 3 miles round trip. It does require some 4th or even 5th class climbing though and therefore poses a bit more of a challenge.

Because I have T this weekend I would want him to come along, but I would also want to make sure that it would be something that would be safe and easy enough for him to do. I also wanted to see how quickly I could make the loop hike as I am getting more into trail running.

I left the car at 6:10am by myself and quickly worked into an easy jog. At the first stream crossing I was surprised by a bull moose about 50 yards away. He gave me a good long stare, but wasn't making any attempt or actions to charge. I slowed to a walk until I had a tree between him and me and then picked back up into my run.

I did have to slow to a quick walk for some of the steeper sections prior to Cecret Lake, but I still made it to the lake in 13 minutes. Not stopping I continued up to the main trail heading to the saddle and maintaining a quick pace with few stops I was on the saddle in 32 minutes.

A quick drink and a turn left had me heading for the summits (there are three, one proper, but two others worth doing). I was never really able to get a good look at them till I was close since I had a direct look into the rising sun. Beautiful. All three summits were technical, but easy; hard 4th class at the most. The third summit required the most from me technically, but that was because I purposefully made it harder than it had to be; I guess I just enjoyed the challenge and exposure. I was on the final summit in 56 minutes.

I was down the other side and working my way down to the access road to the Supreme lift. That was a dodgy part as it was steep and loose, but once on the road I drew back into a steady jog and it was only 5 - 7 minutes before I was back at the car, making a total trip time of 1 hour and 23 minutes.

So much fun. Friday I'll have pictures.

Dusk Patrol 7/28/08

Sevrdhed, Trent, Fluffy, Jamesmonster, and I went up to White Pine Chutes for a night session on Monday. It was a lot of fun. Classic problems up there and you are always alone. So great.

Steve warming up.

Me warming up.

Fluffy sending the classic cave v2.

Jami working the start to the v2.

Steve sending the cool v6.

Head for the Hills 7/25

4:15 am comes really early, no matter what time you attempt to go to bed. Knowing I was heading up Little Cottonwood Canyon to summit a peak made it a whole lot easier, however.

We were out of the car and hiking by 5:10 am. It was a perfect day, maybe 60 degrees out and clear skies. We got to Cecret Lake by 5:45 and made a quick stop to take a drink and then we were off again.

Steve passing Cecret Lake

How bad can life be when this is how you watch the sunrise?

We summited by 6:25, only an hour and 10 minutes after leaving the car.

Peak Jumping is the sport of kings!

It is a really great hike and one I would gladly do again.

You can't skip the opportunity to boulder.

Dawn Patrol 7/22

Let me begin with discussing last evenings efforts.

I went up to LCC after work and attempted to climb. It had been overcast and temperate all day. Yet, as soon as I was out of the car and at the rocks the clouds parted and the temperature jumped by about 15 degrees. Long story short, sending pretty much anything was out.

After about 30 minutes of throwing my sweaty palms at the rock I finally gave up and decided to go for a run up the lcc pipeline trail.

I had never really been trail running before, but I can say with certainty now that this is my favorite way to run now. It was such a pleasure. As I'm nursing a bit of a pulled hamstring I didn't run very far so I kept it to about 2 miles, but it sure was fun.

This morning the regular DP crew headed up to the Hidden Forest: me, Jami, Steve, and Ian. Unfortunately, none of us were overly motivated and so we kept to the moderates and easy stuff. It was still a good time none-the-less.

I find that I am generally happier starting my day prior to 6am. I never thought I would have said that.

7/17 Dawn Patrol

Summer is the time of Dawn Patrol. This is an annual tradition for us that we have been dedicated to for about 5 years now. We have kept a regular routine of getting out twice a week all summer. I think that we have finally settled in to climbing every Tuesday and Thursday.

This morning we went to the Wasatch Resort so that Jami (and me for that matter) could do some new problems we have never done before. Trent had never been either so it was a win for pretty much everyone.

The climbing was easy, for the most part, and we had a great time, as usual.

Steve topping out an easy V0 warm-up

Jami sending a long V1

Is this too many people to have on 1 climb? If you look close you will count 4.

This V4 was really tough. It became even harder after I crushed the good foothold.

New Purpose

Since I have done such an amazing job of slacking on posting here I've decided to use this blog to focus on all aspects of my climbing and use my other one for family stuff.

So for those of you who don't care about my family and only want to look at climbing stuff, you can just use this site.