A Bouldering Session at Alcova Reservoir

We just got back from a road trip, and we've been climbing so much that it's going to take multiple posts just to get caught up.  The plan was to start summer break with a trip to Tensleep.  We had packed up the car, and were ready to go.  But luckily I checked the weather and noticed that Tensleep was in the middle of a Winter Weather Advisory!  So we took advantage of the cool conditions to visit a bouldering area at Alcova Reservoir near Casper.  Danny Baker posted photos on his blog, and made the area look like a very warm place.  He's one of the main developers of the area, and the one to contact for more information.  On the day we climbed there it was cold, but we were lucky that we could get out of the wind in the small canyon.

Ashley warming up on the roof left of "Fly Boy."  

 Just downhill was a low roof traverse called "Rain Roof."  Ashley got psyched!

 It's all fun and games until it's time to topout.

 The dry canyon has some nice attributes.  Many roofs to climb out of.

 A plethora of incut crimps.

 And many tall walls cut by horizontal cracks and features.

 My main goal was to find and climb "Black Magic."

I found it, the climb fit me well, and I sent it on my third try.  It's a beautiful problem, and it got the trip off to a good start.

The canyon has interesting erosion patterns. This block looks ready to topple off of the pedestal of loose sandstone flakes below it at any moment.

Alcova Reservoir was just recently discovered/rediscovered.  It has many good problems already, but the stone will clean up, and many more problems will be done in the next year.  It's already good, but it will be even better.  We'll be making a trip back this Fall.

That's day one.  Day two will be written up soon.