That's A Really Good Deal

February 12, 2016

That's A Really Good Deal

Tex warming up on Softliner (5.12d).

Pulling over the last little bulge on Californicator on my way to repeating Californication (5.13a) and then failing on the mega-link Extended Vacation, a monster 42m pitch. I fell just beneath the chains on some dirty featureless rock. Oh well. There's 45 minutes of my life I'll never et back.

Tex enters the first crux of Chronic (5.13b)

Chronic is such a standard for all endurance routes at Little si or anywhere really. Gently overhanging, highly featured rock, fantastic movement, slightly bouldery at the top, ridiculously cool holds and great rock. It's easily the most consistently good rock climb in the area.

Tex diverts into Extended Illness (5.13c) for a repeat attempt.

The heinously thin crimps in the crux of Extended Illness. This short sequence and the subsequent pump from the last 50 feet of climbing have kept a send at bay for me. It's like the big brother to Chronic.

Black Diamond Time, ALL the time.

Thibeaut Pawlas visiting for a short stint in order to try the best route in the state Pornstar (5.13d). Unfortunately it's still a tad wet. I hope I get a chance to be here when he sends it. His battle with this thing is turning into an epic tale of will power. Especially after he got hit by that car! Glad he's okay and thankfully the metal keeping his collar bone intact doesn't set off any metal detectors.

A warm down repeat burn of Chronic. I had a pretty sweet day skipping work to come out and play at my favorite crag. It turned out to be a great fitness day, I put down 5.12c, 5.12d, 5.13a, and 5.13b, and a failed attempt at 5.13c. Now for a rest, some more training, and hopefully some sun!

Cold at the bottom, hot at the top.

Mt. Rainier. I managed to get out for the last glory day of the ski season here in the PNW (hopefully that's not true). Last Saturday we had a fabulously untracked powder morning at Crystal. I bounced around the resort like a little kid enjoying untouched off piste and grinning all day. It was sad when the snow finally turned to mashed potatoes and I realized looking at the forecast that this might be the last good day of the season.