Sherri

Trust me, Flat Stanley had a good time there...some of the photos just didn't make it to the nephew. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

For our nephew's class project, family members were asked to take "Flat Stanley" along with them on their vacations. So, when it came our turn, we took him climbing, of course. Obligatory tourist pose: We spent the first day of our trip warming up on some of the single pitch gems at Willow Springs, where we saw a tarantula crossing the road. She was a beauty. But I'd hate to meet her in a crack! Next day, we met up with our friends Joanne and Jorge for a group-seige of Geronimo(there were six of us altogether, not counting Flat Stanley). We split into two groups of three to save some time, and it was my first time leading w/double ropes. Bill Hotz belaying me. Joanne leading 2nd pitch: Two of the climbers in our group were newbies and Geronimo is a great climb for confidence-building. Lots of big holds and generous belay ledges: Our party finished in the dark and we had a little fun w/stuck ropes and momentarily losing the trail back to Oak Creek parking lot. Thankfully, Bill's sense of direction was better than mine and he navigated us through the washes and cacti without too much lost time. Next morning, I met back up with Jorge and Joanne for my first taste of Ginger Crack, a fabulous 5.9 just to the right of the famed Chrimson Chrysalis. The approach was warm and a bit strenuous, but the climb itself was in the shade. I led the 1st and 3rd pitches, which were a fun mix of face, offwidth, and a bit of chimneying. (photo linked from Summitpost.org) The 2nd and 4th pitches were the money pitches, with plenty of stemming, long reaches, and steep jams. You can summit by doing a few more pitches, but we stopped at the top of 4th and rapped the route. Kelly styling "Chips and Salsa" at Tuna Wall the following day. I onsighted Spiderline at Willow Springs, a 5.7 single-pitch which had been on my ticklist for a while. It starts in a wide crack(which can be face climbed) to a ledge, at which point you follow the edge of the varnish. Book states it is "suprisingly well-protected," but I'm not sure I'd be so generous with my assessment of the pro. Even with slinging chicken-heads and threading varnish plates, the pro was sparse and the climbing thoughtful. Still, it was a nice route w/a 2 minute approach. I think Flat Stanley had a great trip. We did, too. : Approach notes: Southwest Airlines. (no charge for baggage)

Wasn't that one posted by that "Robbovious"? Turns out most of those bizarre posts were churned out by a stalker of the real "Robbovious". Here's the real-deal's profile disclaimer from rc.com: "If you're not a rockclimbing.com regular, you might not know me very well, and you might actually have come here thru a link from some other site, perhaps even yahoo.com. I am blessed/cursed by having an internet stalker who goes by the name of Bristolpipe (on NEclimbs.com) and has spent a good amount of time going around the internet creating false identities based on or around my username here and on other sites, and even my real name in a couple cases. For me, its kind of a creepy pain in the ass, as you may imagine. if one of those faux "robbovi-ae" have somehow caused you hassle, feel free to contact the admins here and compare my IP addy with that of the faux ID, you'll likely find that the IP address of the guy posing as me, leads back to Metrocast cablevision in NH. I don't live there, and you can PM me and talk to me about it and I'll be happoy to relate the entire back story, though I'm going to have to insist that you provide proof that you aren't him. after that, you're on your own dealing with his obsessive fuckup behaviours. " Strangeness is truer than fiction.

Last year, I saw a gf reduced to tears because the bf went off-route(putting her in the harder polished corner to the right of Saber Ledge) and ran it out so that she couldn't hear him--she was panic-stricken, between being on a harder route than she signed up for and never being completely sure she was on belay because she couldn't see or hear bf. I don't think there was much spooning in THAT tent that night. Lesson: regardless of which climb you choose, KNOW the route and stay w/in sight or voice contact in order to ensure happy ending.

Thank gawd.

Oh snap!

Another vote for RR. The place has a lifetime's worth of routes, with plenty of variety for every style. Besides the "classics," you can always check out the new routes being put up at Red Rocks Climbing Guide or mountainproject.com I'm headed there next week to do just that.

Warm weather=more beer. What's not to love?

I love it when you get all butch. Unfortunately, Shugga may be sweet, but she ain't insulated enough for that forecast, Hunnypie. Lows in the 20's and 30's! Sure the Westie will be warm, but eventually I'd have to come out to climb, right? WTF happened to fall? This is madness. I'm jumping ship next week and going down to Red Rock to warm up. Now THIS is a climbing forecast! You should come, too!

That's because I have been holding out for a better forecast. It's just too damn cold. I'm delicate. I'm bummed I'm going to miss cuddling with you and Minx.

Oh, those scrapes from Cat Burglar were nuthin. You know, just a little exfoliation to keep the scar fresh. No, I missed it. Please tell me again. I'm kinda late on doling out the appreciation for today; so consider this a headstart on tomorrow's wuv: :kisss: :kisss: how's that?

WTF? It took three days for my appreciation thread to amass 25 posts, and you're at 24 in only a day? What do you have that I don't?

Hey Babe, my shins can take whatever you dish out. (long as you're not wielding a chainsaw) I think everyone should have an appreciation thread. I think we should start a forum just for that very purpose, in fact. I think we should rename cc.com, Climber Appreciation Forum. I bet it would be a big hit. Celebrate your inner narcissist, I say! Sobo, have I told you today that I appreciate you? :kisss:

I was always partial to the Muppets. Especially the Swedish chef. "Yorn desh born, der ritt de gitt der gue. Orn desh, dee born desh, de umn bork! Bork! Bork!"

We brought one of ours last year(it was a necessary evil). She kept a pretty low profile around the campfire until she discovered that these strange people with lights on their heads had a propensity for dropping FOOD everywhere. Clearly concerned for the environment, she went on an all-out mission to clean up the site.

I'm sure he'd appreciate(and get a chuckle out of) your story and sentiment, Malcolm. You're right on about Kevin's friendliness and helpfulness. A kind soul, indeed. He introduced me to his playground(the Elwha) last winter and was nothing but patient and encouraging at the end of the rope as I repeatedly flailed on his fave routes. (He didn't tell me there were "easy" ones ) His ability to send those burlies so effortlessly was almost uncanny. I don't know the details of the accident, other than what's been posted over on the supertopo.com thread: He fell this weekend in Eldorado, CO ;his wife witnessed the fall; he has two broken ankles and back injuries; went in for surgery on the worst ankle tonight. He always said he'd rather die in a fall than end up busted up for the rest of his life. This is going to be a hard pill to swallow. Hopefully, his love for climbing and support of his wonderful wife will pull him through and see him back out there sending at the Elwha someday soon, showing the rest of us how it's done.

Pears aren't bad. I'm more of a star fruit.

The only one that lets my feet reach the ground--Sportser. She's a 1990 pearly white beauty.

Good point.

But weatherman says it's going to be C-O-L-D! I'm not built for alpine

Kevin keeps a pretty low profile around here and isn't one for much fuss, but for those of you who know him or have climbed with him, you know he's a salt-of-the-earth kinda guy who puts his heart into his climbing. I'm sure he and his wife could use your good thoughts and wishes right now. Supertopo thread about Kevin's fall this weekend

Glad to hear that everyone was ok! Sounds like you had an awesome day, Sobo. Good to see you racking some mileage and and gettin' all core for next season. Found me a ropegun! Wooot!

Aw shucks, Sobo. That's quite an inspiring endorsement. Thank you for your kind words. I'd climb with you any day, too.

It's nice to be appreciated. When are you going to come back and ropegun for me again? I haven't been up Z-crack since that photo! (Could be a Harley ride in it for ya..... ) Sure isn't the same without you around here. Don't be a stranger!

Ok. We're good. :kisss: My L'worth plans got rained out today. I'm staying home to pick blackberries for your RU cobbler.