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Kris Haskins Staff Webpage |
Cragging - Exit 32 and Index |
| June 12-13 2009 |
Brian had asked us about climbing on Friday, and had suggested going to exit 32. He and Michelle were going to leave Seattle around 2 which was a bit early for us, so we decided to meet them out there. We were able to leave seattle around 4ish, but with commencement happening the next day and all of the other usual Seattle traffic we made to the exit around 6PM. A quick chat with Brian revelaed that they were about to start Bioclamatic Quandry, so Mel and I headed up the trail to join them.
By the time we got there, Brian was cruising through the short gear section, and Mel and I headed down and I lead a 5.7 to the left of Street cleaner. After that, Mel topped it and I went up and climbed and cleaned Bio. Brian then lead street cleaner(5.10a) and continued on to godflesh (5.11b/c). After a bit of hanging and remembering where the good hold were, he made it to the top and we all took turns toproping it. We then headed back to Seattle and made dinner and called it a night.
Brian on Street Cleaner
Brian on Godflesh
Michelle on Godflesh
Mel on Street Cleaner
The next day, Jeff Walters showed up at my house around 8AM and we were quickl off to do some climbing in Index. I had never been there and was pretty stoked to check it out. We arrived at the parking lot and got a little beta from some other climbers to go up and check out toxic shock(5.9). We made our way up there and ended up with the whole area to ourselves for a good hour or so until a couple others came along.
Jeff lead the 5.8 start option, and I followed and cleaned it. The second crack up to is super fun with perfect hand jams the whole way up. We left a toprope up and both did the 5.9 lieback start which would have been a bit spicier on lead, and then Jeff tried the first pitch of slapshot (5.11d) on toprope. He sequenced the bottom part but ran out of steam so he did another lap on toxic and cleaned it. We were running out of time as I needed to be back in Seattle at 3:30 so he lead and I followed and cleaned a 5.7 crack across from Toxic Shock that had some weird OW sections (that could be avoided) and some slab moves left (that could be accessed). Apparently it is a popluar route to do in order to toprope agent orange which goes at (5.11a/b X). I'd like to try it on TR, as death falls sound decidedly bad.
Jeff on the 5.8 Start to Toxic Shock
Jeff Nearing the top of Toxic Shock
Me excited about the stellar hand crack
Jeff working out Slapshot
A quick jaunt back to Seattle got me there in time to shower and take off again for a friends graduation party. All in all, it was a great weekend with some nice cragging and hanging out with friends.