Category: climbing

Eh.

mike d. 0 Comment climbing, school, Weekend Update!

This weekend gets a qualified “eh.” I came in to help with my company’s inventory count on Saturday and Sunday. Most of the rest of my time was spent on a Fluids homework assignment that reaches new levels of obnoxious.

The annoying part of this homework is that most of the work is just algebra. After figuring out which formula to use, which takes all of 3 minutes, the next hour is spent substituting in variables and simplifying equations.

Not fun.

Thankfully, there were two moments of enjoyment this weekend. Saturday night, at 6:45 Jesse and I decided to sprint up to Pinnacle rock and whip out two climbs. We did 1st and 3rd crack. Finishing 3rd crack as the sun set over the hills. Then, last night Pete, Crystal, Jesse, Irene, Joel, and I decided to save our sanity and get a quick climb or two in at Main Cliff.

I collected my first piece of climbing booty* (a sweet Tricam) on a 5.5 lead then tied into a top rope on Wetwall and some 5.9 face. It was raining by the time I hit Wetwall and the 5.9, so the fun factor jumped considerably.

Overall, this weekend gets a 5.3 toprope rating, more effort than enjoyment.

*a piece of gear that someone else left in the rock, either inadvertently or because they couldn’t remove it.

A few photos from last weekend

mike d. 3 Comments A Day In The Life..., climbing

Whitestone is a beautiful beautiful area by Waterbury CT. It almost feels like something out of a Tolkien novel.

Amazing Whitestone Landscape.

On Saturday, Tony, Paulette, and I went climbing at Whitestone. I started with an easy 5.4 lead and then we did a little toprope action.

Some toprope

After the toprope, I attempted ‘Structures’.

‘Structures’ has an intimidating hand traverse about 40 feet off the ground which capitalizes on the ‘Freak Out’ factor. Once you start, you really can’t stop. If you fall, you’ll take a serious zinger and put quite a bit of stress on your gear.

The first move is a mild reach and then a high step onto a sloped surface.
Welcome to Sketch city

Then, you reach out with and move your hands further and further along. Notice there’s no solid feet placement along that wall.
Prayers were prayed.

Finally, you have to swing your leg up and over a ledge, all the while, hoping that your gear is good and that your fingers have the strength to finish the task.
Scared out of my mind

It was an amazing amazing climb. But, I think that I’m going to hold off on trying to lead any more 5.9’s. At least for the time being.

Climbing Weekend!

mike d. 2 Comments climbing, Weekend Update!

This weekend was packed full of climbing.

Saturday: Whitestone Cliffs
Highlight: I led ‘Structures’ a 5.9-. Took my first lead fall, struggled through a hand traverse, but finished the route nonetheless

Sunday: Pinnacle Rock
Highlight: Led 5.8 Zambeezy. It was clean.

Monday: Main Cliff
Highlight: Led 5.7 Wishbone. Also clean, but the length of the route made it feel a bit harder than Zambeezy.

Outside of climbing, I hung out with Tony and Paulette a bit, partook in a Roast of all Roasts, cleaned, did some running and lifting with Shaun L, and took a number of naps. Naps, by the way, can not be appreciated enough.

Fever!

mike d. 0 Comment climbing

I left work at lunch yesterday because of illness. I went home, slept for 3 hours. Today I’m feeling a bit better.

Let’s do some more weekend wrap up.

Climbing at Whitestone!

Whitestone Cliff is a small little crag just north of Waterbury. The climbing there is short (60 feet max height), but it’s isolated and the scenery is amazing. There’s about a 5 or 6 minute hike into the woods to reach the crag. The rock is Gniess and it’s got a bunch of fun surfaces and cracks.

Tony, Paulette, and I started out on a few slab 5.5’s. I lead one (tony cleaned), and then we set up an anchor on another. After the practice runs, we headed over to Dreadlock. Dreadlock is a 5.8 G (‘G’ means good protection). The climb starts off on a comfortable crack that’s about the width of two fingers. I started using a lot of cams earlier on, which made me a little nervous as I was afraid I’d run out later on… but the climb was pretty straightforward so I wasn’t too concerned.

Near the top, there were a series of BIG moves which were very exciting. But the gear was plentiful so danger was minimal.

I got the top, cheered heartily and then belayed for Tony and Paulette. Paulette cleaned the route for me and then Tony finished off.

The whole trip was only about 3 hours long, but it was great to get out to a new crag and get some more trad experience.

This is going to be an amazing summer for climbing.