Despite the sketchy weather this weekend, I was still able to put a full day of climbing in. I got out with Edge Crew members Ryder Hoy and Laura Crowe-Hutchon, fellow coach Vikki Weldon, and good friend Rob Arthurs. We trekked to Chekamus Canyon for some sports action. My Impreza had no problem with the hill leading to the upper parking lot. And after a short flat hike, we arrived.
Dry on a rainy day
With overcast weather, an early afternoon start, and many cars parked in the lots, I anticipated a large crowd. Surprisingly, we were the first ones at the Circus Wall! I suppose popular areas like the Forgotten Wall have drawn people away from the more classic Chekamus locations, which is just fine with me.
Vikki Weldon warming up on the Heifer
We spent the first few hours trying routes on the Circus. Ryder and Laura both sent Face the Music, while I snapped some pics. By then more people arrived, but there were still no lineups for routes. At around 3pm it started to drizzle, but the timing was perfect because we were warmed up and ready to run laps on the Big Show Wall. Vikki has been working Division Bell, so she was psyched to put in more redpoint burns. I just wanted re-redpoint the Bell and Pulse. Laura and Ryder were keen to get on something steep and intimidating.
Ryder Hoy wondering what a Fleeing Heifer is.
Laura Crowe-Hutchon redpointing Face the Music
At the base of the routes there were some Petzl draws left behind. Probably traces of Joe Kinder’s recent visit. (By the way, I agree, Gom Jabbar is not a route!) Anyway, it continued to rain while we all got on the steep awesomeness. Vikki almost redpointed Division Bell! She got through the crux with her funky drop-knee beta, rested using a painful knee-bar, then pushed through the last powerful sequence. She was just a little too juiced and fell 5 moves from the top. I struggled my way up Pulse, then flailed miserably on Free Will.
Vikki Weldon nearly redpointing Division Bell
We ended our day at around 8pm with Sushi goodness for dinner and an Indy Car Race home. I had a good day with great friends. I’m tempted to spend the rest of my summer on a rope. I could use the endurance training for when I travel to France this August. Ceuse is a destination so I need to be able to climb 30 meter pitches!
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Ceuse??? Man, I am envious of that. I have had a hankering to get back there…and Mami and I have been dying to have a nice French roast, that was actually roasted in France.
Nice Pics!
Pretty cool photos. I don’t think I agree about spending the rest of the summer on a rope. You’ll get endurance, true but you’ll lose power. And as everyone knows power conquers all.