Rain Rain, Go Away!

We've had two straight nights of steady rain. And with not much wind this morning, it feels like it will take a while to dry things out for climbing. We'll have a nice big breakfast and take our time getting out of camp. But head to Little Rock City to at least scout things out and climb whatever is dry.
Yesterday was a great rest day. We hit up the gear store (of course) and then the Aquarium, which was a real treat. For lunch we HAD to do Sonic. There are commercials for Sonic all the time around us, but no restaurant within hundreds of miles. The slushes were the hit of the trip (and half price after 2pm :)

Two incredible days in Rocktown

After a super long drive (17 hours over two days) we spend the last two days bouldering on super rough slopers at Rocktown. There have been too many great sends to list out, but we have rolled through many moderates (V3-7). Tomorrow looks like a definite rainy day, so we'll take the intended rest day and head to the Tennessee Aquarium.
More info to come, but here are a few pictures for now.

Chattanooga here we come

Our team is set and psyched. A small group of solid climbers will be rolling do to the South for six days of hard sending. We'll be hitting up Rocktown, Little Rock City and T-Wall (maybe Horse Pens 40 too) to throw down as many problems as our skin will hold up for.
Our team is made up of Luke, Ben, JP, Jess, Michelle and myself.
We hope to update our blog often throughout the trip, so keep checking back. We drive down Thursday and Friday and will climb Saturday - Thursday, returning home by Saturday the 18th.
Wish us tough skin and strong tendons.

Good Sends at GB

Last weekend we returned to Great Barrington to slaughter some of the projects we had gathered over the fall and winter. The send train hit the tracks early, as JP polished off Scary Mantelo, Crystal Quartz Problem and SPAC. Kyle also sent CQP and SPAC for the first time.

Next it was Ben and My turn to throw down Green Goddess, a V7 that we sussed out on that icy day a few months ago. We knew it would go. For Ben it was first try of the day, but it took me 6-7 tries.

For the middle part of the day, not much went down. Ben made it to the last move on a new V9 that he started work on. Kyle and I also made it to the last move on a new V6. We were nowhere near hitting Fen Fen, a V7 project from the icy day.

We finished off the day sending some easier but very fun stuff up above the Filter wall. We had no idea what they were but we figured they went at V2, V3, V3 and V4. The V4 had incredible moves down low but the top out was super challenging.

This weekend looks rainy, but we may hit P-Kill if it holds out.

Back in Action

I haven't published in a while because I have given my fingers a two-week rest while attending to other weekend activities (Namely a middle school conference of 600 kids). But the boys haven't missed a Saturday, rolling out to Triple Right on the 14th and the Carriage Road on the 21st. They have continued to throw down some V4s, 5s and 6s. Very impressive stuff.
I'm excited to get back on rock this week, as I'm teaching a Sport Leading class Mon, Wed and Sat. And I hope to get out and climb something hard on Friday as well.
The boys are very excited about the 200 new holds that the gym acquired last week and were pumped to show me all the new routes they were setting.
Spring is lookin' up.

Spring is almost here

We've had two great Saturdays in a row climbing down at the Gunks. Yesterday was especially superb. With 60+ degree temps and a huge crew rolling down, we got the send train going early. Everyone got to polish off a few of the classic moderates, including Sam who had his first outdoor bouldering day ever.
G and Kyle both sent their first V5s. Mark his first V4 and Ben had the send of the day a V6 Marrakesh Express.

Very soon all the snow will be gone and we'll diversify a little more in where we visit each weekend.

Until Spring...

Ah School vacation week

 

Today is the last day of winter break, so we got one more day of climbing outdoors. It was a send-fest at the Near Trapps today as JP sent his first V6 (Out of the Ashes), and Ben and I both sent 2 V6s (Ashes, Cream Cheese) and a V8 (The Pearl).
The weather was chilly but not terrible. Really couldn't ask for a more successful day.