Saturday, October 29, 2011

A Lone Afternoon at Sweetwater

Uploaded in full resolution. So much potential to explore! You can do some of it from your computer.
After two twelve hour teaching/conference days last week, Lander teachers were given Friday off. So I went to Sweetwater, and recovered from excess human interaction by being very far from anyone for an afternoon.

I did five first ascents. Four of them were on this wall.

"Beautiful"
I expected the lines to be in the V3-V5 range, but they were easier. They're nice problems with incut crimps and good feet, and they all fall into the V1-2 range. It will be a good wall to warm up on for "Norwegian Wood" and a couple projects in the area. I was having trouble thinking of names, and I ended up using a set that Danny mentioned on his last trip to Sweetwater. From left to right the problems are called "Easy" "Breezy" "Beautiful" and "Cover Girl." They seemed appropriate.

Next, I'm planning to give this roof some attention. It could be easier than it looks.
After topping out "Cover Girl" I got distracted by a boulder in the distance, and decided to hike over to take a closer look. It has a very cool glassy north face with some thin features that might be climbable. The aretes on each side will definitely go.
I kept following the boulders and found this proud patina covered face.
Then I found a sector of boulders in the sky. I'll get more photos of the problems when I climb there.
Feeling a little overwhelmed, it was time to hike out. On the way, I passed these three boulders, and many more lines, and I just have to keep telling myself "I'll climb on them someday."
It feels strange to have so much rock, and so few boulderers to develop it. Doing it on my own, one day a weekend, for a few months each year, well, I'll never be able to finish the job. It's going to take multiple people with brushes, many days devoted to hiking, and some crews with multiple pads to get the majority of the nice lines found and established. Until that happens, I'll probably be spending quite a few sessions at Sweetwater alone, brushing and climbing boulders. Just me and some wildlife.
Let me know if you'd like to check it out.

4 comments:

edejom said...

"It feels strange to have so much rock, and so few boulderers to develop it. Doing it on my own, one day a weekend, for a few months each year, well, I'll never be able to finish the job. It's going to take multiple people with brushes, many days devoted to hiking, and some crews with multiple pads to get the majority of the nice lines found and established."



...Amen, Brother--I know how you feel.

Butte Batholither

Where The Road Opens! said...

liked this post alot... you had a weekend alone? Hope the hunt was good because you seem to have found more quality jems.

Lloyd Family said...

I spent Friday afternoon out there alone, and bouldered in Sinks Canyon with the family today. Ashley is pretty happy with getting outside once a week during the school year.

We have quite a few more great problems to do at Sweetwater, if the weather holds out. I'll let you know if I'm headed out there.

Unknown said...

Dem sum purrty boulders right der man.