The Fire Burns Within

Dom and Jimmy


Laura

One day spent at Little si, and two spent in Tieton. Why not? My weekend was looking jam-packed with climbing. I would share this trip with three great friends and outdoor enthusiasts Dom, Laura, and Jimmy. We drove aimlessly (at least for the first hour) before finally realizing we had missed the exit for highway twelve and had to back track. We wrote down the proper exit number this time so all misguidance’s and wayward run downs could be avoided in future trips. It was near 2:30 in the afternoon when we pitched our tents in the free camping area and sought out the Oasis, our first stop. The shade was a welcome break from the weight of the sun but as you climbed higher it became inescapable. Warm-ups were .10c, .10d, .11a, and then onto the coolest looking .12a around. I forget the name (probably because I didn’t send) but it was an amazing route. The first thirty feet were brilliant! Face climbing on small to medium edges with a multitude of foot options and great movement. Then steeper climbing on good holds with short cruxy sections that had pronounced crimper/slimper sequences. It was all good fun! Dom came close to the OS, I came really close to the flash, and Jimmy bagged the flash but not without the uncovering of a jug that turned the top crux into a not so much crux. It was a great route, I can’t wait to go back.

We ended the day in the shade once again at Dream Wall, a crag we had not been to on previous trips. It was blocky and junky looking but the first climb I got on was a really fun .10a that was long and juggy. Next I tried a .10c that was rather awkward and did not climb so well, and by the time Jimmy got down from his go we were all ready to leave. It was getting late anyway and we needed to collect firewood. Lucky for us the wood was in great abundance a mere 20 yards from our campsite. We stacked the logs high and wide. By the time we were done breaking them down and stacking them we had a pile at least three feet by four feet, it was very comforting. We ended up burning the whole pile, including a mama log and stayed up until one watching the blaze, chattering away, and teaching Dom the finer intricacies of ‘shot-gunning’.

It was a pleasant night’s sleep and we woke to sun and a full day of climbing at The Cave area. There were a lot of highlights! Jimmy started out strong with an onsight of Elixir (5.12a), flashed a few .11b/c/d’s, and polished the crag off by flashing the hardest thing there, a .12c arête!! It was a great weekend for Jimmy, three days on and non-stop climbing the whole time; I might have to start calling him ‘the machine’. Dom also had a strong showing with several .11b/c flashes/OS’s as well as flashing the .12c arête too!! I was surrounded by animals!! I could not manage to attend this power packed party as I flailed on several routes and yielded to the lactic acid and sheer terror that pulsated throughout my body. But, I have this to say: The Cave is definitely one of the best crags in Tieton. It has three very different areas all side by side with three very different styles of climbing, rock quality, and aesthetics. The .12c arête is a total gem with great movement and I am super psyched to come back for the send. We were all beaten up by the end of the day and ready for some QB back in Oly’.

Dom starting the long journey on his flash of Trigger Finger (5.12c)












What a weekend! My friends are amazing!! So psyched for more of these kinds of trips to come over the next three months. I start part time in a couple of weeks and I’m ready for a little R&R and skin shredding!! Now it’s time for the last week of the world cup, a lot of really hot weather, and hopefully a few Exit outings this weekend. Hurry up and get yourself out here Nick!!


The End!!