Down by the River

Projects excite me! I just love it when something that previously felt impossible turns possible.  I love the anticipation of getting closer and closer on a problem that's at my physical limit.  Then when I finally do send...there aren't too many feelings that compare.  It's refreshing to know that you have the power to accomplish things that are really really REALLY hard for you.   

Near Zion, UT there is a small, STEEP limestone crag next to the Virgin River.  The rock is a little chossy, but the problems are quite spectacular.  I really enjoy the steep, physical, and sustained style.  Lately I've gotten more than a little psyched on a very difficult, very LONG problem put up by pro climber Joe Kinder, called Bovice.  It is far more difficult that anything I've ever done. So we'll see how it goes.  I'm definitely going to have to be patient on this one.

Yesterday we went there with Tommy and Bridget.  Tommy worked on a really cool line named Six Shooter.  Sheralee sent a fun V4 that we've dubbed "The Saw" in about 9.5 tries.  She's getting ready to crush! Go teacher power!!

The Saw

Tommy Six Shooting

Me trying to figure things out on Bovice

A Mystical Land

School has forced me to pick a random place with rocks to examine as a senior project.  After a little bit of pondering I thought to myself, "Hey I know a place with rocks".  This small stroke of genius has brought me to the mystical land of Ibex to do extensive research for a few hours during the day and climb every other small fraction of time.  

I really don't think there's anywhere that compares to  Ibex.  It is located right smack in the middle of nowhere.  There are a series of tall rocky ridges and vast valleys with randomly located outcrops of artistically colored bullet quartzite.  The majority of boulders are huge, with some nice lowballs.  The style is delicate yet powerful and most of the problems are very sustained, even through the mantles.  One of the best parts is that nobody is out there.  It seems to be bouldering's best kept secret. (If this is inspiring you to take a trip, please ignore my rants and raves of Ibex's awesomeness.  It is really just a really long drive to some frictionless crap.  The wind blows 90 miles an hour every day an it's usually raining some of the time.  Unless we invite you to come with us, then it's incredible.)

So here's a photodump from a couple of weekends spent in Nowhereland, UT:

A Morning Sesh

Well, lately the southern Utah choss just hasn't been doing it for me. Sure it's still fun to get out every once and a while and try some new project, but really, I've been dying to get on some good stone. So when we made plans to visit family in SLC I was extremely excited to get a morning session in with my great friend Tommy.  We only had a few hours to climb, but we still managed to get on three incredible boulders: Euro, Citizen Dildo, and Wristrocket.  It was awesome to get out to a different place and get on these legit boulders.  Just being able to be out there was a huge blessing in itself.  Unfortunately, we didn't send.  This seems to be a typical LCC pattern for me.  I go, I climb on awesome new boulders, I feel like I'm getting really close, then I fail and go home with good times but no sends.  Oh well, the sending is just the bonus.  I feel like I'm really close on Euro and Citizen Dildo so I just need to make sure that I go back to them next time I'm here and don't get distracted by other four star boulders. Tommy is really close on Wristrocket, I'm positive he'll get it next session.  Wristrocket is one of the most amazing boulders I've seen, but it was hard for me to commit on it because I was greasy as a mexican burrito to start off with and I kept having visions of myself swinging off into the talus and shattering my limbs.  I do really want to climb it one of these days, but Euro and Citizen first.

Some Tommy:

Brimmy!!

A little while ago our wonderful friends, Brimmy (aka Bridget and Tommy) came to visit/climb.  It was an epic weekend covering all the local Cedar bouldering areas.  On Friday night we climbed Flannigan until we were basically sleep-climbing zombies.  Then on Saturday we climbed at Bunker Creek and then the Wash until we no longer had fingertips, of course we continued to climb on bloody nubs until it was time for dinner. Unfortunately, we slacked on the photography.  We managed just these few pictures of the Meadows at Bunker Creek.

A Small Piece of Cedar and a Tribute to the Newlyweds

So mostly we've been climbing mostly around awesome Cedar City, mostly with a really awesome couple: Mr. and Mrs. Swensen.  We've mostly taken a few awesome pictures of them and so this post is mostly dedicated to them and their awesomeness!

The overlook is a mighty fine place to visit in the summer. Jens and Vonae killing it!

The wash is SLOWLY cooling down enough to climb in.  I almost forgot to mention the very noble and valiant efforts of the one and only Hope Adair!! Literal off the couch crushing!  Don't worry the hubby, B-rice is coming along very nicely as well. Maybe if I told him there was a ginormous buck sitting on the top of the boulder he'd be more motivated to pull his butt of the ground.