Squamish 2006: Part 3

8-11-06

Daniel on ATD [v7]

Back to the forest again. Although I wasn't climbing, it's fun to go out to the boulders and take pictures, watch the climbing and hang out with friends. Daniel and Lyn were on a mission to do the classic ATD, v7 so we warmed up and headed over. The temps were pretty good (see hat above) and both Lyn and Daniel dispatched their project.


Lyn on The Bulb [v8]

Everyone was scurrying around the forest because the temps were so good. I managed to do the Weasel, v8 which in previous years had given me fits. Courtney scampered up Baba Hari Dass, v7 which is a sloping arete that is very friction dependent. Later, the crew headed over to Rat Rock and the crew tried two fun problems: The Bulb, v8 and Sharma's Arete, v8, which Courtney also dispatched with style. It was a great day.

8-12-06

Courtney warming up on the Black Dyke boulder


Will on Viper [v5] and Tim on Sloppy Poppy [v5]

After yesterday's good temps and subsequent long climbing day, my skin went from hero to zero. Everyone else was still psyched to climb. Especially Tim and Will, our friends from the Bay. They have been running around the forest with perpetual grins.




Lyn on Mosquito Incubator [v8]

In the afternoon, Lyn and Courtney started to try Mosquito Incubator, v8 but the grade belies the difficulty. Almost all the holds are facing to the left which makes it hard to hang on. The sequence also varies wildly from person to person since body position is so critical. After a while, Lyn and Courtney had figured out all the moves but since it was the end of the day, both were tired. Lyn and I stuck around after everyone else took off and Lyn's patience and persistence were rewarded with a end of the day send of an old nemesis. It's a great feeling when you can do an entire problem when previously you couldn't do any of the moves. Lyn was very happy.

8-13-06

Carpet roams the forest

You see the strangest things in the forest here. We discovered a walking carpet that apparently roams the forest in search of food. We climbed again (of course) and started out at the Black Mark area to warm up. Courtney and Randy had problems in that area that they wanted to try. We had a fun time wandering around the Black Mark and Titanic areas warming up 'Bandit' style. Meaning that we walked around and used everyone else's pads, which Randy calls 'bandit bouldering'.

Although I was trying to preserve my skin, I couldn't resist getting on Backseat, v10 a problem so fiendishly simple (but frustrating) that it's hard not to try. Out of some miracle, I had a surprise send. Some problems feel like you're in jail; it's not skill or strength that get you out, you just have to do your time.


Tim on Plan Insanity [v5]

At the end of the day Lyn and I cajoled the crew to head over to Plan Insanity, v5. This is one of our favorite problems in the forest and we are always looking for people to hop on it. After an extremely long day of climbing, Tim found the reserves to fire it (and we finally got a chance to shoot photos of it).

8-14-06

Cam, Paul, Lyn & Kona

Although Kona is not technically part of the family, we have given him at least a ceremonial title since he's such a cool dog. On this day, the weather had warmed up a bit and also because we hadn't had a rest day in a while, there was quite of bit of lounging around. The forest is such a beautiful and peaceful place, it's easy to do.