Traded in the city of salt for the city of rocks this weekend.
Yes, there is an entire city of rocks.
I had heard of it, but never before been
If I were a rock climber and were to build a city I’m quite sure it would look something like this.
Andy Jacobsen was my guide.
We came to climb so climb we did
I’m just starting out, so this was like summer climbing camp.
Andy has been climbing for a very long time.
He would lead and I tried to follow.
‘Bloody Fingers’ was the highlight of our first day.
Here’s a look down!
Our patient climbing companions Ken and Toast.
Some rain ended lessons a little early. The Bread Loaves near camp were all buttered up at sunset.
By end of day one i was feeling much more comfortable on the rock and with my gear. A good mixed bag of climbing from 5.7, 5.8, several 5.10’s and Andy powering through a 5.11c.
Breegfast
Found our way to the ‘Drilling Fields’ wall and this beautiful 5.11.
I led my second pitch ever, a 5.10a sport route which was much more exciting than top roping!
Weather came in and we explored in the rain.
We stayed dry while AJ worked on this 5.12 overhang.
‘I can’t believe it’ was a really fun 5.10 that we both led. Here’s Andy working over the roof.
Toast on the prowl
It was getting a bit late and the rain seemed to clear everybody out.
We hoped on this 3 pitch route (5.10c I think) hoping to get up and off before dark.
Perfect route to end the trip and the day!
We rapped off at dusk and the moon came out.
Thanks Andy for showing me the ropes. It’s pretty awesome to enter into a new ‘sport’ and have someone highly skilled show you the way.
Awesome pictures!