Rock Climbing --- 5/5/2008 - 5/7/2008 --- Gunks

Fourth trip to the Gunks in four weeks! Kristin, Guy and I had an amazing 2.5 days of climbing. I got a bit carried away and took over 300 pictures. Don't worry, I'm not going to include them all here.

On Monday we started with Groovy, which I had looked at last weekend. I enjoyed leading it and setting an anchor so we could toprope Space Invaders. Kristin got Space Invaders clean, I misread the sequence and had to hang once. After everyone tried both climbs, Kristin led Ant's Line and we set a TR on Ent's Line. This time I got Ent's Line with only two hangs. I've definitely got a sequence that works for me, just need more endurance. We finished the day with Guy leading both pitches of Madame G's. Then off to the DEC for dinner, rummy and oreos.

Tuesday we went over to the Nears and Kristin led both pitches of Birdland. I've really wanted to climb that with her because it is one of my favorite climbs at the Gunks. Then I led Roseland which felt much more polished than the last time I climbed it a few years ago. Guy was planning to lead the last pitch of Gelsa, but there was a party on it. So instead we toproped Shitface. Turned out to be a great choice. It is a really fun climb and I was excited to get it clean.

Since he didn't get to lead Gelsa, Guy led both pitches of Disneyland. Then Kristin and I swung leads on Yellow Ridge. The normal start to that climb is much much harder than 5.7 and has no gear. I don't know if something has broken off or what. So I led the variation to the right. Still harder than 5.7, but at least there is gear. I linked the first two pitches and Kristin led the last, exposed pitch. Then back to the DEC for dinner, rummy and oreos.

Wednesday morning we swung leads on Directissima. This was the first climb where we could all lead a pitch. Kristin led the first pitch, I took the second, and Guy led the third. This was actually Kristin's first time on the High E ledge. Between retying for each pitch and me having to lower back down my pitch to clean a tricam, it took us until 1pm to get back to our packs. At that point it was time to get three pints of Ben and Jerry's and head back to Ithaca so the college students could study for their silly exams.

Click on the thumbnail to see a version sized to fit a 1024x768 screen. For best results, maximize your screen (F11 in most browsers). Click picture to cycle to the next picture.