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Kris Haskins Staff Webpage |
Vantage Cragging |
| April 11th, 2009 |
The weekend had a good weather forecast for Vantage on Saturday, and the UWCC was planning on heading out there for a beginning rock climbing trip. I had an alumni fraterninty event that I wanted to attend on Saturday night, so I planned to head out there Friday and climb until 4 on Saturday. At first I thought I would camp out there, but quickly decided it would be more fun and comfortable to stay with my mom in Yakima. Mel wasn't coming with me, so I made the trip out there by myself and got to Yakima by 9:30. I had a great time staying up chatting with Mom until about 2AM, then was abruptly woken from a strange dream at 6:30 the next morning to get ready to leave for Vantage. After grabbing some coffee and food, having an interesting conversation with my grandma, and packing up my stuff I was out the door driving to Vantage.
I had talked to Evan before I left, and he said they would be out at the millenium wall so that is where I headed. I got there and found a number of new people there climbing. It was pretty rad to see so many new faces, I think it bodes well for the future of the UWCC as more people get interested in climbing and carrying on the club.
Pointing out gear placement opportunities to some new members
My first climb of the day was leading a 5.9 route. I was a little nervous since I hadn't lead anything since last year, but it was all bolts anyway and it went off without a hitch. After that, I thrased my way up a couple of .10c's on toprope with Evan letting me know that I was making it look way to hard. Next up I did a 5.5 gear route that was pretty fun and super easy. It was nice to play with my shiny pieces of expensive metal again, and I can't wait to get on some alpine rock. I then lead a .10a right after Brian did, which turned out to be a pretty fun but a little scary(a huge piece of rock flexed when I weighted it). I ended the day by doing a super fun .10a with a bouldery start, then flailing and cheating my way through the crux on an 11b.
Me Leading the 5.9, first of the new season
Me leading the 5.10a
It was nice to get out in pretty much perfect weather(not too hot, but really sunny), and get back on some real rock. I really need to get back into the gym more regularly so I can start climbing a bit harder now that the rock season is upon us. I was pretty pleased that my lead head was in fine shape, as I was never sketched out on lead. We'll see how that goes once I get on some harder gear routes rather than clipping bolts though :).