2013 Season Opener

March 14 and sunny.  Thanks to daylight savings time we stopped by South Seas on the way home and took a run up Shark's Breath  and Shark's Bait.  Probably could have got in a couple more before dark, but are trying to ease into it.  Shooting for an injury free season.

Freak's Fright

Spire One

Picket Fence and Station 13: view from Spire One


Joel, while posting pics midclimb to facebook: "I've looked at this a few times, but always backed off. It's good to be climbing it today."

Me, while struggling in a strenuous, awkward part of the crack: "Wish this was one of the days you'd backed off of this."


Joel Esquire, perhaps at the anchors after the awkward crack and horizontal traverse, before spriraling around the spire. Lots of rope drag, little protection for the last stretch.


Coming down. It was a good climb. No matter what I said in the middle of it. Petzl did great, waiting at the bottom. And lemonade/ice tea from Kenna when it was all over.

Credits: Photos by Joel Hagan

"If Loving Air Supply Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Right"

I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you
I know you were right, believing for so long


Two less lonely people in the world

We all must find a place where we belong

Even the days are brighter

Close your eyes I want to ride the skies in my sweet dreams

I can't fight this feeling any longer

Making love out of nothing at all

More About Pools

Raining in town, cold and windy at the Park, we thought we might be more protected by the lake than up on the ridge. Years ago when I first started climbing with Mike, we were glad to get to do something other than our normal 3 topropes. Kenny, who was just Kevin back then, led us up Pools and Pie and set up California Cowboys. I remember being awed by the view from the summit. It was good to return to the scene.

Amy, Flappy and Kenny just don't look as cold as I remember it. The wind kind of died down as the cloud settled around us. Bobby Billy showed up after being led on a wild Lander Turkey chase with his little dogs. By the time he got to rope up the cloud was a mist and by the time he was halfway up California Boys, the mist thickened into rain. It was good to be out; gorgeous as ever. No, I'm not talking about the weather.

Pools and Pie, California Cowboys, er I mean California Boys, no Cows

Jan & Jane, Chewy's Tumble, High Point

Little behind on my new resolution to keep track of this spring's climbs. I think it was sometime in May that Amy and I followed Chris's lead up Jan & Jane on Spire 2. It's a lovely line. Bobby Billy and Kenny were climbing some crack to the left which sounded grunt inspiring, complete with ice flow. Apparently the belay point for their 2nd pitch left Kenny in perfect view to see me paw repeatedly in the air while psyching up for the step-accross. Chris promises to send pictures.

My camera was still in an unknown location when I met up with Kenny, Flappy, and Amy at Moonlight Ridge. They'd been busy for awhile and they let me jump on Chewy's Tumble. It's a pumpy little 7 that I found very pleasing. While we were discussing what to try next it began to rain. We opted for the hike to the truck and met Chris in town; it was his birthday.

One day after work in early June, Kenny and I drove up to the Needle's Eye despite a rather ominous sky. We pulled in as little droplets started hitting the windshield. We walked around a bit, and then it stopped. We decided to go for it, but since it was a tad damp out, we went for High Point and left Tricuni Nail for more optimal weather. It was fun and exciting. The rain came back with some powerful wind. Easy climbing, but not much for protection once you leave the crack and shoot for the summit. Seemed like a lot of rope went out. The real exciting part comes on the downclimb from the summit to the rap point.