The Good Times

The Text

Sometimes things balance themselves out. If the Cochise climbing trip last year lies at one end of the weekend climb-trip spectrum, our last weekend’s City Of Rocks outing is at its polar opposite. No busted ankles, no bleeding eye sockets, no insect bites, no falls, no vertical boulder fields, no mystery infections, no f…ed up weather, no dislocated shoulders…wait, scratch that one. Other than a sprained canine “wrist” joint, one speeding ticket, 4.22 tanks of Saudi’s finest, and 20 hours of driving, it was just 1.5 wonderful climbing days on solid rock in the beautiful Idaho sunshine! Great rock, great pitches and great beer. Blondie’s grounder on a 4th class boulder descent (hence sprained paw), Shirley’s traditional lead of Batwings (bypass the bolt on the Direct variation) and a handjam of mine that refused to quit on Z Cracks provided the only drama. Oh yeah, we perhaps got some good karma points for changing an old couple’s flat tire on the Idaho backroads (which was quickly spent in having my speeding ticket knocked down a bracket). As a good Taliban, I once again “let” my wife fight most of the battles for me – Shirley led some quality pitches in good style with Thin Slice (and actually Batwings) being her pride and joy. Nothing else to be said other than some photos.

Saturday

On Saturday, I led Z-Cracks (3/4 stars), Double Cracks (3+/4 stars), and Colombian Crack (4/4 stars). Shirley led Snakes & Ladders (2+/4 stars), Batwings (4/4 stars!!), and Rye Crisp (4/4).

Sunday

On Sunday, I led nothing....unless bailing off the first bolt counts as leading. Shirley led Carol's Crack (3/4 stars) & Thin Slice (4/4 stars).

Images

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