Rock Climbing --- 6/30/2016 - 7/22/2016 --- Wyoming, Idaho

Summer road trip with Mike.

Without Bottled Oxygen...

First an aborted attempt at Ellingwood Peak in the Wind River Range. Mike's back is bothering him. We hike a few hours, then decide to set up camp. The next morning, we bail.

On to Ketchum, Idaho. We bike the Greenhorn-Imperial loop. Then enjoy hammocks in the shade. Finishing the day with a long soak in the hot springs. The next day we repeat the process... biking the Fox Creek loop, hammocks, and hot springs.

Next stop, Grand Targhee. We bike most of the trails in Horseshoe Creek. The next day we meet up with Gretchen, Adam, Jess and Jay. While Gretchen and Jess participate in a biking clinic, the rest of us bike the non-lift access trails at the resort. Taking a chairlift to mountain bike? Not for us. And we are doing this without bottled oxygen.

Tetons! Highlight of the trip... Seeing a mama black bear and three cubs at the Lupine Meadows trailhead! From there we hiked all the way up to the Moraine campsites. With packs that were far too heavy. Ugh! The next day we started up Owen-Spaulding, but even with axes and crampons it was just too icy and cold for comfort. We turned back around 12,500' (which is lower than my high point of the upper saddle on my previous attempt). Hiked all the way out. Packs still too heavy. Saw a fox on the way to camp for the night.

Cragging day south of Jackson in Hoback Canyon. We climb Hoi Polloi, Bolt Face, and Hook It. Limestone sport climbing... yay :/

Back to Pinedale, WY for another shot at Ellingwood. Mike isn't up for the hike, so I abandon him (I'm a climbing partner, but not a good climbing partner) and head in solo. Seven hour hike to where I set my tent just east of Island Lake. The next morning, up at 4am for a solo attempt at the North Ridge. Two hours to approach the climb, and then about 300' up I decide that free soloing is not for me. I thought it would be an experience of pure climbing without all the ropes and gear to distract. But it turns out that I find it to be oppressive and looming and not much fun. I downclimb the route and return to the tent. After scouting a few different approaches to the climb (for when I come back with a rope and a partner) I pack up the tent and hike out. Reaching the trailhead at 8:30pm... that's a really long day.

Forecast in Crested Butte sucks (as does Squamish and the Cascades). We drive to Vedauwoo and climb Edward's Crack and Screw. Here is a tip for you... if a climb is called "Screw" it just might refer to what the climb does to you. Just sayin'

Getting ready to hike into the Winds (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Getting ready to hike into the Winds    Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/3/2016

Mike hiking (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Mike hiking    Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/3/2016

Mike hiking (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Mike hiking    Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/3/2016

Mike hiking (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Mike hiking    Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/3/2016

Boots and tents and boots and tents and boots and tents (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Boots and tents and boots and tents and boots and tents    Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/3/2016

Mike hiking (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Mike hiking    Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/4/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016

Biking the Fox Creek Loop (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Fox Creek Loop    Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/6/2016

Craters of the Moon National Park (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Craters of the Moon National Park    Craters of the Moon, Idaho -- 7/7/2016

Craters of the Moon National Park (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Craters of the Moon National Park    Craters of the Moon, Idaho -- 7/7/2016

Biking Horseshoe Creek (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking Horseshoe Creek    Drigs, Idaho -- 7/8/2016

Jay and Adam biking at Grand Targhee (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Jay and Adam biking at Grand Targhee    Grand Targhee, WY -- 7/9/2016

Jay and Adam biking at Grand Targhee (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Jay and Adam biking at Grand Targhee    Grand Targhee, WY -- 7/9/2016

Adam, Mike and Jay looking out over the Tetons (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Adam, Mike and Jay looking out over the Tetons    Grand Targhee, WY -- 7/9/2016

The inside of the truck is so empty! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

The inside of the truck is so empty!    Grand Targhee, WY -- 7/9/2016

Oh... that's why (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Oh... that's why    Grand Targhee, WY -- 7/9/2016

The Grand (Category:  Rock Climbing)

The Grand    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Ready to start hiking (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Ready to start hiking    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

A mama black bear and three cubs!!!!! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

A mama black bear and three cubs!!!!!    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

So freakin' cute!!!!! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

So freakin' cute!!!!!    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Amazing (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Amazing    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Hiking up to the Grand (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Hiking up to the Grand    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Hiking up to the Grand (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Hiking up to the Grand    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Hiking up to the Grand (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Hiking up to the Grand    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Hiking up to the Grand (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Hiking up to the Grand    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Black Dike splitting Middle Teton (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Black Dike splitting Middle Teton    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Black Dike splitting Middle Teton (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Black Dike splitting Middle Teton    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Taking a break at the Meadows (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Taking a break at the Meadows    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Taking a break at the Meadows (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Taking a break at the Meadows    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Hiking up to the Grand (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Hiking up to the Grand    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Hiking up to the Grand (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Hiking up to the Grand    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

High camp at the Moraine (Category:  Rock Climbing)

High camp at the Moraine    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Was I really hungry enough to eat a sausage? (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Was I really hungry enough to eat a sausage?    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

High camp at the Moraine (Category:  Rock Climbing)

High camp at the Moraine    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

High camp at the Moraine (Category:  Rock Climbing)

High camp at the Moraine    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016

Adam and Gretchen coming up to the lower saddle (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Adam and Gretchen coming up to the lower saddle    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016

Adam and Gretchen coming up to the lower saddle (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Adam and Gretchen coming up to the lower saddle    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016

Adam and Gretchen coming up to the lower saddle (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Adam and Gretchen coming up to the lower saddle    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016

Amazing view to the south (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Amazing view to the south    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016

The lower saddle (Category:  Rock Climbing)

The lower saddle    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016

Lots of snow and ice on the route (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Lots of snow and ice on the route    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016

Adam and me (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Adam and me    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016

Marmot (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Marmot    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016

Marmot (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Marmot    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016

Deer (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Where's Waldeer?

Deer    Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016

The 1925 Gros Ventre slide (Category:  Rock Climbing)

The 1925 Gros Ventre slide    Kelly, WY -- 7/14/2016

Gretchen and Adam (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Gretchen and Adam    Kelly, WY -- 7/14/2016

Climbing in Hoback Canyon (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Climbing in Hoback Canyon    Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016

Climbing in Hoback Canyon (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Climbing in Hoback Canyon    Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016

Climbing in Hoback Canyon (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Climbing in Hoback Canyon    Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016

Climbing Hook It (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Climbing Hook It    Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016

Climbing Hook It (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Climbing Hook It    Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016

Climbing Hook It (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Climbing Hook It    Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016

Climbing Hook It (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Climbing Hook It    Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016

Hiking into the Winds (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Hiking into the Winds    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/16/2016

Hiking into the Winds (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Hiking into the Winds    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/16/2016

Hiking into the Winds (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Hiking into the Winds    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/16/2016

Pika (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Pika    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/16/2016

Ellingwood Peak and Elephant's Head Peak (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Ellingwood Peak and Elephant's Head Peak    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016

My shoes in their happy place (Category:  Rock Climbing)

My shoes in their happy place    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016

Me in my happy place (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Me in my happy place    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016

North Ridge just at the boundary of sun and shadow (Category:  Rock Climbing)

North Ridge just at the boundary of sun and shadow    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016

North Ridge just at the boundary of sun and shadow (Category:  Rock Climbing)

North Ridge just at the boundary of sun and shadow    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016

Hiking out of the Winds (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Hiking out of the Winds    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016

Very long day! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Very long day!    Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016

Mike leading Edward's Crack... (Category:  Rock Climbing)

WHY IS THERE AN ICE SCREW ON YOUR HARNESS?????

Mike leading Edward's Crack... it would have been funnier if this was on Screw    Vedauwoo, WY -- 7/19/2016

Heroic Mike (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Heroic Mike    Vedauwoo, WY -- 7/19/2016

Heroic Squirrel (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Heroic Squirrel    Vedauwoo, WY -- 7/19/2016