[TR] Index LTW - City Park 3/24/2007

[Jeff_T]

Trip: Index LTW - City Park

 

Date: 3/24/2007

 

Trip Report:

We headed out to Index on a nice rainy day knowing we would have the place to ourselves....so what about the buckets of rain coming down, right???

 

The first pitch seemed pretty straight forward. Although since the rock was wet, the start of the route up to the bolt ladder had to be aided. Once Steve was at the belay, I cleaned the route. Not real quickly...I gotta work on my jugging technique.

 

I led up the second pitch. After reaching an old 1/4" bolt, I had a couple of different cracks I could go up. Not sure if the one I chose was the best. I decided to go up a thin crack to the left. It took micro nuts at first then larger pro further up. Getting up on the ledge near the top was pretty tough. I had to top step and really reach to make a blind nut placement. Soon after that I was able to make a few free moves and reach the belay.

 

The third pitch looked pretty straightforward, but we figured at our current snail's pace, we may be coming down in the dark (and pouring rain)...something I did not look forward to. We decided to call it a day and headed down.

 

It ended up being a great climb, even though we got completely soaked. Here's the pics: http://www.cascadesclimber.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=41

 

Jeff

 

Gear Notes:

Used a lot of mid-size nuts, a couple micro nuts, .75 - 2 Camalots, offset Friends, HB offsets, and a whole bunch of other crap that I can't think of right now. We took way more gear than required.

 

Approach Notes:

Huddle under tarp hanging off car while getting ready, try not to get run over by train that comes just as we are heading out, endure grueling 100ft approach trail.

Edited April 1, 2007 by Jeff_T

[DCramer]

Right on. I think every time I set out to aid climb at the LW it was it the rain. The time first time, about 30 years ago, was Narrow Arrow Overhang right var. I remember because I left my EB’s at the base and drove off to California without them. I was too poor to buy new ones so for a few months I used an old pair of wrestling shoes.

 

A rainy bivi under the Golden Arch is marred only by the incredible wetness of the pitches below. P1 of Abraxas can be a waterfall in a full on storm.