Utah 2008 Part II

The second half of our climbing trip has found us sitting at the food ranch more hours than we'd like. Rain, snow and driving wind has forced us indoors where we seek solace in relatively clean bathrooms, tasty fried chicken and free wifi. As Paul and Cameron sit next to me playing chess, I'll try to recap the last few days.

Thursday: 3/27
Paul tests out his forearm and finds that while only at about 75%, it's still good enough to flash most the climbs we try. We start out at the Black and Tan area where half the warm up is getting sweaty searching the hillside for the boulders. The problem "Don't reach around" is pretty darn good, especially if you do reach around. Otherwise, the area is kind of a bust, a sandy bust. Scott slips away to send "Finger Hut" and the boys join him for a quick session at "Jitterbug perfume". We end the day at "Moby Dick", an excellent problem with multiple heel hooks and really good slopers.


Friday 3/28
It looks nasty out. The day begins with our breakfast of champions: cocoa roos and marshmallow mateys. Somehow Paul and I have ceded our normal healthy eating habits to the junk food nation with the excuse that, hey, we're on vacation. Climbing starts and ends at the Big Joe area where Andrew overcomes his fear of highballs with an impressive send of "Bobcat in the Kiparoo" and Scott makes short work of "Scary Monsters". Siemay and I work out all the moves, but the send eludes us. We decamp to "Big Joe" where we build a fire and try to get warm. High jinks ensue with Andrew, Patti and me competing to see who can get the most Gojiberries into Noah's open maw. I win with 4 points. Patti and Andrew's combined score is 1.






Siemay and I work on "Big Joe" as it snows. It's the perfect climb for inclement weather, steep with no top out. Here's a video of me sending? The finish of the climb is matching on the jug flake. I have to return and climb it again in better style. --Paul accidentally posted the video of me taking a crazy fall, NOT the video of me "sending" the problem.



Saturday 3/29

Cam arrives in Salt Lake City!

Sunday 3/30
It's Andrew's last climbing day. We warm up at yet another new boulder: the Small One near the UMWA boulder. Paul tests out his forearm on "Jitterbug Perfume" and discovers that, yes, he can still crank and dispatches it in two tries. After a quick stop at the UMWA boulder for Patti to give Walrus a few good burns and me to work out "Stompin Hippies", Paul continues his roll by knocking off "Finger Hut" in about 30 minutes. Quick digression: I need to try out Paul's sit on the couch, eat ice cream, get injured and not climb training regimen because it evidently works beautifully. We end the day at Scary Monsters where, once again, it snows us out after just a couple burns.



Monday 3/31
What's up with all the snow?