Zion

[bigwalling]

April 8-17th... wall climbing! Just trying to see if anyone is interested cause I'd be stoked to have someone to share drive.

 

[bigwalling]

Almost 200 views and only 1 person... HAHAHAHAHAHA

I'll add another pic for you stay at home fuckers.

[dberdinka]

That ain't Zion fooooo

[specialed]

I just got back from Zion and most certainly did my best to avoid any AID climbing. However, I did watch an aid climbing party across the canyon manage almost ONE whole pitch in the frigid shade while we cruised up a naughty little grade IV in the GLORIOUS sunshine. I snickered as we drank beer at the car in the evening and they froze on their little portaledge. Silly aid climbers.

[bigwalling]

yup, I think I'm going to the fishers instead. Looks like full value down there! It's time to get the shit scared out of me!

 

I prefer to party on the wall! OE and tequilla make aid a lot more fun.

[specialed]

You should get on Death of American Democracy. Hee, hee, hee.

[chirp]

Specialed, where did ya climb in Zion? Did you get up to Kolob to do any of the short free climbs up south fork?

[specialed]

No Kolob. Weather wasn't super great and apparantly the road was washed out for part of the time we were there. We did Equinox and Hue and Cry, and failed a pitch and a half from the top of Lovelace.

[chirp]

sweet! Grats on being able to savor some zion! I miss that place

[specialed]

There's some great obscure long free routes there than few people climb because they are too dirty / sandy and have lots of wide cracks.

 

We camped next to some Colorado dudes, one of whom was supposed to be some badass alpine ace. All he did was whine about how shitty, dirty, and loose Zion was. They bailed from one climb and tried to do another but ended up hiking around and could't even find it. Then they ended up packing up and going to Indian Creek.

 

We had a blast though. Great adventurous climbing.

[bigwalling]

sweet dude! You take any pictures? I just got a digital and I'll post a bunch of whatever I do.

 

dberdinka, you did sundevil, right?

[specialed]

I was too scared to take my digi on any of those climbs. Between the butt squeezing offwiths and exfoliating sandstone my camera would have been squished or filled with sand or both. Should have bought a disposable or something though.

[dberdinka]

I've always drueled over LoveLace, that line and all the others on that wall look spectacular. What resulted in failure? Aren't the cruxes down low? How much OW? How was the aid? Tell me! Tell me!

 

Bigwalling...I climbed the Titan a couple times two years ago. The Fishers are great. All the stories of horrid, terrifying, insane climbing are completely blown out of proportion by CO climbers trying to inflate their egos. ...well at least on the trade routes .

[gosolo]

The Finger of Fate Route on the Titan is very cool and pretty clean for the Fishers....At least 22 years ago it was pretty clean (in terms of loose rock). Having said that, the old bolts were only 1/4" by 1 1/2" long so be wary if there are any of those left. That rock can be manky though, a friend was juggin and there was an outward force on one of those old bolts. The bolt didnt pull but it did pull out a whole chunk of rock with the bolt! Pretty amazing actually.

[specialed]

Lovelace is funny. Its all a very straight forward climb, until, well... the 5.8 chimney pitch towards the top. Starts out fun 5.9, then straight forward aid pitch with like one or two smaller nuts at the crux. Then two fun 5.9 pitches (one a cool fists / off fists offwidth). Then the crux - a 5.10+ bigger than fists offwidth. After the "crux," we thought we were home free, with the topo showing a 5.8 pitch then a 5.9+ fists to the top out.

 

Of course we started this Grade V at like 10 in the morning, so it was getting late at that point. But 2 easy pitches no problem. So, Eric goes on lead and pretty soon is like "you sure this is the way?" Of course, its obviously the way. To summarize: Eric thrashes and struggles with the "5.8" pitch witch turns out to be a 5.11 flaring chimney. Trying to climb it inside with a tipped out #5 for pro was a hateful sandy squeeze and going outside offer no pro, serious exposure, and apparantly a very akward chimney due to the flair.

 

I wanted to give it a go, but it was near dark, so Eric downclimbed to a drilled angle about half-way up the pitch and we lowered. Then we bailed getting down to the base at dark.

 

Talking to some locals later, we found out that pitch is a notorious sandbag and has turned back many a strong climber. Nevertheless its a super bitchin climb and we had lots of fun even though we didn't top out.

 

The other lines on the East Temple sure look cool. Cowboy Bob looks rad, and apparently one rumor is that the last pitch - the 5.10+ R sandy face isn't so bad or you can go around or something.

[gosolo]

Thanks for sharing. That is a cool looking wall.

[dberdinka]

Thanks for the beta, sounds tough. Is this Eric one and the same as ERIK who was once a crowning spraylord?

[specialed]

No this is Eric W, alpine rock toughguy and international playboy extrordinare.

[Squid]

Damn, this is a small world.

[Alpinfox]

No this is Eric W, alpine rock toughguy and international playboy extrordinare.

 

Playboy Fo' Sho'

 

THE SHIRT

[Thadsboner]

im heading to zion on the 6th for a short trip then i will be there the whole month of may when i go on unemployment. already lined out for this next weekend but looking for partners for may.

Edited March 30, 2005 by Thadsboner