Don
Trav and Don
Myself going up to tear down the poster.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Broken Hearts Photo Shoot
Well, we needed to get some more shots for Monster, to make the big bosses happy, so we went up Broken Hearts, for a little ice bouldering and soloing. The ice was super snow cone, one swing wonders, but falling apart. All in all, good to climb on, but minimal protection. It was a great day to be out there, however, as the temperature probably was hanging around forty degrees.
Don
Trav and Don
Myself going up to tear down the poster.
Don
Trav and Don
Myself going up to tear down the poster.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Aldrich Creek Ice
Travis and I decided we wanted to do something that we had not yet done, in a rarely visited drainage. Aldrich Creek usually gets snowed shut very early in the season, and doesn't clear up until fairly late in the year. With the warm weather we had, we knew we could get up there, and try this climb that Trav wanted to do.
That's a big kitty.
At the bottom of the pitch, getting tied in.
The bottom headwall
Working to the top. We figured it was about 155 feet. Alot longer than it looked.
Just below the top headwall.
The last shot before the camera died.
Unfortunately, I knew I was forgetting something last night. Well, that something was charging my camera battery. So, I only got a few shots, and am still waiting on getting Trav's. They may get uploaded later. The drainage was a total slog. No ice on the creek, meant breaking through every few feet, wading through the last remaining snow drifts, with just enough slick spots to require crampons. Oh well, it was a really fun, wet, juicy climb, that doesn't get done that often. The drainage has already seen runoff once, and it must have been a sight to see. There were new beaches about five feet above water level. There were a lot of potentially cool lines up there, but it was so warm, most were melted out and THIN. We went up with doing more pitches in mind, but a storm system rolled in, and we decided to get out while we still could. The road is a 4x4 Jeep trail, and was a fun ride going out. The mud was deep, and slick. Would I go up again? Definitely!
That's a big kitty.
At the bottom of the pitch, getting tied in.
The bottom headwall
Working to the top. We figured it was about 155 feet. Alot longer than it looked.
Just below the top headwall.
The last shot before the camera died.
Unfortunately, I knew I was forgetting something last night. Well, that something was charging my camera battery. So, I only got a few shots, and am still waiting on getting Trav's. They may get uploaded later. The drainage was a total slog. No ice on the creek, meant breaking through every few feet, wading through the last remaining snow drifts, with just enough slick spots to require crampons. Oh well, it was a really fun, wet, juicy climb, that doesn't get done that often. The drainage has already seen runoff once, and it must have been a sight to see. There were new beaches about five feet above water level. There were a lot of potentially cool lines up there, but it was so warm, most were melted out and THIN. We went up with doing more pitches in mind, but a storm system rolled in, and we decided to get out while we still could. The road is a 4x4 Jeep trail, and was a fun ride going out. The mud was deep, and slick. Would I go up again? Definitely!
Monday, February 25, 2008
From One Day To The Next
This weekend, Travis and I wanted to go tick off some routes that we had already attempted this year, but had been turned back due to rotten weather, slow leaders, other parties on the climb, or some other reason. On the menu for Saturday was Broken Hearts, as many pitches as we could get through. The weather was a beautiful, sun lit forty two degrees when we left the car.
Travis on pitch one.
Topping out on Pitch One.
Travis leading Pitch Two.
Making a go on Pitch Three.
After bailing off midway up the bottom. We could hear ice falling from the upper tier while we were up there, so we cut our losses.
The next objective for the weekend was Chasing The Sun. You have to love Wyoming weather, as it was maybe ten degrees when we left the car Sunday for this climb, and snowing. We were concerned with what this sudden shift in weather would do to the ice.
Travis on the approach.
Travis giving Pitch Two a go.
This was pretty much our high point. Since it was so warm, then so cold, most of the ice was fairly well rotted out. Travis tried going up higher, but dinner plates the size of our bodies were coming off, so we decided to get the hell out of there. He then tried another line, after we both discussed the possibility of it actually going. He got about the same height as these pictures, and had to bail, on account of the crappy ice. The first pitch was starting to melt out at the top by the time we got back to it, so we bailed off of that fairly quick as well. Oh well, next time. It was still a good weekend to be out playing. And of course, it begins to feel more and more like spring. I was getting all excited for some rock climbing, some more mountain biking, maybe some boating, and as I write this it is snowing. Hard. I guess maybe winter still has a bit of bite to her. More time for ice climbing!
Travis on pitch one.
Topping out on Pitch One.
Travis leading Pitch Two.
Making a go on Pitch Three.
After bailing off midway up the bottom. We could hear ice falling from the upper tier while we were up there, so we cut our losses.The next objective for the weekend was Chasing The Sun. You have to love Wyoming weather, as it was maybe ten degrees when we left the car Sunday for this climb, and snowing. We were concerned with what this sudden shift in weather would do to the ice.
Travis on the approach.
Travis giving Pitch Two a go.
This was pretty much our high point. Since it was so warm, then so cold, most of the ice was fairly well rotted out. Travis tried going up higher, but dinner plates the size of our bodies were coming off, so we decided to get the hell out of there. He then tried another line, after we both discussed the possibility of it actually going. He got about the same height as these pictures, and had to bail, on account of the crappy ice. The first pitch was starting to melt out at the top by the time we got back to it, so we bailed off of that fairly quick as well. Oh well, next time. It was still a good weekend to be out playing. And of course, it begins to feel more and more like spring. I was getting all excited for some rock climbing, some more mountain biking, maybe some boating, and as I write this it is snowing. Hard. I guess maybe winter still has a bit of bite to her. More time for ice climbing!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Early Season Mountain Biking
Today was beautiful. In the low forties when I woke up, so I decided today would be a good day to start getting in shape for mountain biking season. After gathering all my gear back up, and really getting off to a later start than I wanted, I decided to go to Cody's version of Moab's Slickrock Trail. I was kind of nervous as I drove out and saw snow on the ground, but most of the trail had melted off. There were a few wet spots, and a couple snow bank drops, but nothing too horrible. Go Ride!!! If the weather stays the way it is supposed to, it will be a great week for it!
The drop in, also the top of the Climb From Hell
Different view, on the way back up the Climb From Hell.
The trail follows roughly six miles of this fun kind of stuff!
A cool rock formation at the bottom of a swale.
The exit of the slickrock, before dropping into the two track through Oregon Basin
The exit climb up slickrock.
The view from the desert. Slickrock follows the length of the rim.
Back at the car. Slickrock starts at the skyline.
The drop in, also the top of the Climb From Hell
Different view, on the way back up the Climb From Hell.
The trail follows roughly six miles of this fun kind of stuff!
A cool rock formation at the bottom of a swale.
The exit of the slickrock, before dropping into the two track through Oregon Basin
The exit climb up slickrock.
The view from the desert. Slickrock follows the length of the rim.
Back at the car. Slickrock starts at the skyline.
Tuesday Ice Climbing Trip Report
So, I didn't get very many pictures of this particular adventure, because the climbing was so amazing. Travis and I originally decided to do Too Cold To Fire Monday, but we were both so fried from Ice Fest that we barely managed to drive up the Valley. So we decided to save it for Tuesday. It was about 42 degrees when we left Deer Creek Campground, and the sun was shining. Good! After freezing to death on Smoked Turkey, I welcomed the change.
Too Cold To Fire.
Travis leading pitch two.
Trav trying to figure out how to get around the headwall.
Tuesday was a perfect day for this kind of climb. It's usually rated a pretty solid WI4, but with the temperature the way it was, sticks came easy. The hardest part was all the weird moves to clear bulges, and getting tools to swing in ways they aren't used to being swung. There were some beautiful windows, just left of Trav's line, where the ice was probably two inches thick, and completely clear. You could see the rock and water running behind the thing. Of course I had to smash one on the way up, since it was the only place I could get a tool to go in. Once over the crux headwall, things were definitely snowcone. One swing would bury an axe to the hilt, until the very top, which was some fairly tricky mixed climbing. For Cody it was tricky, anyway. We were back down to the car by noon, back home by one. Good short day, very much worth the hike.
Too Cold To Fire.
Travis leading pitch two.
Trav trying to figure out how to get around the headwall.
Tuesday was a perfect day for this kind of climb. It's usually rated a pretty solid WI4, but with the temperature the way it was, sticks came easy. The hardest part was all the weird moves to clear bulges, and getting tools to swing in ways they aren't used to being swung. There were some beautiful windows, just left of Trav's line, where the ice was probably two inches thick, and completely clear. You could see the rock and water running behind the thing. Of course I had to smash one on the way up, since it was the only place I could get a tool to go in. Once over the crux headwall, things were definitely snowcone. One swing would bury an axe to the hilt, until the very top, which was some fairly tricky mixed climbing. For Cody it was tricky, anyway. We were back down to the car by noon, back home by one. Good short day, very much worth the hike.
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