Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Project Shopping

Coal Mine Cart Wheel

Krissy sending Kill by Numbers V5 with great quickness - now it is time to step it up for some bigger projects

Kill by Numbers

The crux move of kill by numbers

Looking towards Joe's Valley Reservoir

An old mine cart from one of the near by abandoned coal mines
These photos where from Krissy's day of "project shopping" in Joe's Valley, UT. After quickly dispatching Kill by Numbers, a three star V5, Krissy went on to try Big Joe (V7) and Wills of Fire (V6). The goal is now to complete both of these before our time is up in Utah. I am pretty sure they will both go down with a little more effort.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Update From A Snowy Joe's Valley, Utah


Rest Days:
Some of you may be curious to know what we typically do on a rest day.  For those of you who may not follow, a rest day is a day off from climbing. We need rest days to allow our muscles to heal and the skin of our fingertips/hands to re-grow, allowing us to eventually climb our projects!  Lately we have been on a day on (climbing), day off (rest) routine. Sometimes, if our skin and muscles are wrecked, we take two consecutive days off. Sometimes we climb two or three consecutive days.  It all depends on how we feel and how much skin we have on our fingers. 

Rest days sometimes turn into “active” rest days, meaning we don’t really relax or rest because there are errands to run and places to see.  We get a little restless with too many rest days so close together (either day on –day off routine, or sometimes day on- two days off).  We sometimes do touristy things like check out local shops or go to some nearby attraction (i.e. pictographs, scenic vista). We may go for a hike to check out new boulder projects. We almost always get a few groceries, check emails and shower (either in a river/hot ditch, public bathroom or, if we’re lucky, a real public shower). Hanging out in a good coffee shop with wifi is a common rest-day activity, when there is one around. Some days we do absolutely nothing, and it’s nice. Just sleep in, wake up, eat, read, nap in a hammock, eat some more. Rough eh?  I know we are on a rock climbing trip, so basically, we play all day. But sometimes it does feel rough. The “ con’s” add up and wear on us.  We get upset or stressed when we don’t send projects or climb well. We feel guilty for taking rest days sometimes because we feel we should be climbing.  Sometimes we get frustrated with each other. This stuff happens. Our bodies are tired (physically) and mentally.  Living outside for this length of time is hard and it can really wear on you.  For the most part, we savor every minute of this trip because we know how it feels when a trip comes to an end : Post-trip depression.   

Ben on the first huge move of Worm Turns Sit V13

Hitting the first big move

The had and foot beta needed for Worm Turns


Crux match

Regan on Wills of Fire V6


Alex and Fritz hanging out


Beyond Life V10
Regan trying to warm up on a cold morning in Joe's Valley, Utah



Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Joe's Valley Photos

A few photos from a very hot day in Joe's Valley, Utah.
Ben sending Worst Case Scenario V9 - second go, after blowing the flash

Crux move of Worst Case Scenario

Josh working on Trent's Mom V10 in the heat

Working the top of Masterpiece V13

Ben on Masterpiece V13

Jade holding the pads down

Worst Case Scenario V9

Working Masterpiece V13

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Our Trip; By The Numbers So Far....


The Numbers
1 Car
2 People
3 Crashpads
4 Flappers
5 rain/snow days
6 climbing areas so far
7 body related issues (chipped tooth, eye infection, tweaked knee, arthritic fingers,  bloody nose, toe infection, shoulder pain)
8 months on the road total
9 unfinished projects
10 split tips
12 climbing brushes
13 lbs of coffee
14 jars of Nutella (most of which was eaten by Ben)
16 jars of PB
17 bags of chalk
19 states driven through
20 pairs of climbing shoes
30 consecutive days sans shower
80 dollars for private tours in Hueco
95 days on the road
190 dollars spent on camping
350 boulder problems
7801 km driven

Too many freezing nights
So many new and old friends met on the road
Countless memories

No caption needed

Joe's Valley on a hot day - can be very cold the next...

Krissy working Chips V7

and we love the Food Ranch

Ben on Kinda Brawny V8

Kinda Brawny V8

Hanging out at the Resevoir (Krissy would like you to know the camera distorted her head)

Krissy sending Dyno Time V5
Our dusty/cold/hot/windy home for now

Josh and Jade having a moment


Regan sending Chips V7

The perfect Joe's Valley sandstone

Krissy on-sighting Stumble Bum Traverse V5


Stumble Bum V5

COLD!

Ben nearly flashing The Worm Turns V11

Snow Day!

Worm Turns V11

Krissy on her way to New Joe's area

Our new ride

Deer skull
Ben sending Resident Evil V10 - pretty epic battle for this one

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Final Bishop, California Photo Dump

Rock Creek, near Bishop - elevation of about 8500ft.
Krissy on Choice of Weapons V4
Ben on the tiny crimpers of Campground Arete V10
Campground Arete V10
Topping out Campground Arete V10
Krissy using the power beta on Groove and Arete V4
Ben sending A Boy Named Sue V7
Krissy about to get a butt kicking from A Boy Named Sue V7
Krissy working on Molly V5 at the Sad Boulders
Krissy sending Anti-Hero V5 at the Sad Boulders
The crux of Anti-Hero V5
Volcanic Tuff
Ben either before or after caffeine/chocolate overload
Getting finger skin as cool as possible to send The Aquarium V12
Ben sending The Aquarium V12