Green River Time

green river towers (we climbed the 4 to the right)/(it looks like there is only on more on the left)

canoe parking in the tamarask trees!

Orin getting on his new route First Kiss 5.12-

base camp (just a few feet from the river)

I spent the last week away from my wife and on the Green River with some climbing friends: Andy, Pete and Orin. It was our hope to climb some desert sandstone towers, canoe, camp and climb some more. All in all it was a great trip with many great memories forged through our expereinces on and off the rock.

As luck would have it we discovered a few crags with perfect sandstone and wildly unique cracks. In all, we established seven new free climbs and equipped them with anchors. We also got the first free ascent of one of the green river towers by free climbing an old aid section.

I am sure that we all will remember the tents getting crushed and nearly blown into the green river by the wicked cold front. Andy demonstrating what a california butt fish swam like. The mouse that had died and been preserved in some old uranium mining equipment inspiring the name of a new route "mouse in a tractor". The old barrel that Andy tossed into the green. The chef boy r dee night of terror. The sand storm during dinner, making those bean burritos just a bit crunchy. More offwidth climbing then we could have possibly imagined. Deserted desert tower summits. Replacing tat at anchors, huge racks of big cams, falling rocks, 150 foot pitches and more. Night jugging, night canoeing, Orins first new route. And of course, lots of trundling (or for those who don't know, rolling giant boulders down the hillside until they explode in a pile of dust). Enjoy the pictures...

Labor Day 2009

Chuck F just took this photo of me in the classroom. Always helping the kiddies.

Fall slowly coming to Lander!

Cool limestone formations at the crag.

Jamie getting it done at the Iris.

Yes, I am that flexible. Climbing at the Sinks Canyon.

A last look at the Iris before heading home.

We set out towards Wyoming to sport climb at Wild Iris near Lander.(Later after the trip someone said to me, I didn't know that you still sport climbed. I lauged) So, the drive went surprisingly smooth and we made it to camp after about 6 hours of car time. My back and butt were sore from the bucket seats of my wifes car. The full moon rose big and bright as it crawled up over the horizon. The Wyoming highways were empty except for the other travelers heading into the stix. Kelly and I met up with Mike and Mark and Kate at the crag saturday morning and we were off. Mike had spent the last year in Ohio for work and felt the 8500 ft elevation as we began climbing in the shade. As the day progressed our fingers and climbing styles got used to the pocket pulling that is required at the Wild Iris.

We hiked to the crags through the open prarie and then down through the pine and aspen forests which were just beginning to turn yellow for the fall. Each afternoon the clouds built and rain appeared to the north and south, but luckily missed the rocks that we were playing on.

When Mike half the crew was ready for rest, Kelly and I found some other friends at another wall and laughed the afternoon away clipping bolts and taking whippers.

You did what?

Some shallow water bouldering! Jason tearing it up.

Jason and Nelson getting ready to tango on the sandbar.

Me aiding the first pitch.

Carrying some gear from the boat to the route.

Our pile of goodies.

Nelson and Jason filling up the kayak, with Steamboat rock in the background.

Our tent site along the river.

Well this weekend was a busy one that wore me out!

It began with driving nearly 7 hours after work to the upper left hand corner of Colorado to a place called Dinosaur National Monument. We were heading to Steamboat Rock which lies at the confluence of the Yampa and Green rivers and stands a few hundred foot tall. Layton Kor climbed the plum line up the sandstone wall and I was out to free the first aid pitch (hope to free at least). I traveled with Nelson and Jason, both of whom were up for an adventure.

One of the difficulties was the fact that we had to cross the river without getting our gear wet, so we borrowed an infaltable kayak and paddled across. Since none of us are very expereinced on the river it was nice to see that all the water was flat and there were no rapids downstream to wreck our day.

So we arrived late at night and slept in a traquil site along the river under some huge trees. There was a light breeze and thousands of stars in view. As we faded into our slumber, it was easy to count the shooting stars burning up in the atmosphere above because every August is a great time to see space junk getting caught in Earth's gravity.

In the morning, we filled up the boat and crossed the easy flowing 200 ft wide river. Jason and I crossed with the gear and I went back to get Nelson and the camera gear.

On this climb I began aiding up the thin and sometimes nonexistant crack with my rock hammer, pins and knife blades. Each placement getting me a bit higher on the route. It was the first time that I had ever led a hammering pitch and it was kinda cool. I eventually reached the top of the pitch and set a top rope in order to practice the free movements of the route. Unfortunately, Jason and I had good success at the bottom of the pitch, but found that there was not enough features in the sandy dihedral to free climb to the top. I knew that there was a chance that the route would be impossible and I hoped that it wouldn't be but not ever climbing trip is perfect. It was successful in that I learned how to keep gear dry on the river and perform river crossings and that I enjoyed the experience. I look forward to my next river/climbing trip in September in Utah.

After we retreived our gear from the route it was time to swim and have some fun in the river because we were getting crushed by the heat of the sun.