The Ants Go Marching

Weekend of April 26, 2014

Our lives have been quite hectic as of late, but we still managed to make it out a few times this Spring. Yoli, Chuck, Micah, and I headed down to the Red for 3 days of out-of-shape climbing and ended up having a blast! We visited the Chocolate Factory on Friday and got on some exciting climbs. I have trouble breathing just thinking about them. Climbs that I would have previously warmed-up on are now terrifying, as I slowly return to the sport after being injured for 5 months. My elbow still causes me anguish, but if I'm careful, I can get in a few climbs before I have to call it quits. We climbed some SCARY stuff!

Enjoying breakfast in the "Moby"

On Saturday, we did some waterfall climbing. Talk about terrifying. Apparently the route we climbed is always wet, but it's always a little nerve racking when you're standing above your last bolt on wet nubbins with mossy sloping ledges for hands. It was actually a lot of fun and as always, I managed to find the absolute hardest way through the last section. I got completely sideways and did a one-arm-one-foot-sideways-press-up to clip the anchors. I must have scared Chuck pretty bad because he chose to top rope the climb. Mind you it was a 5.9. After TR'ing it, Chuck came down scratching his head and wondering why I had such a hard time with the route and decided to lead it and send it properly.

Chuck then decided to send Buddhalicious, I believe it was his 13th 5.11a or harder of 2014. If that's not impressive enough, the guy recently turned 70. He's crushing more stone then most 30 year olds. I think he's sent more 5.11s this year than Yoli and I combined.

Chuck, Micah, and Climber Dude.

All of this is quite amazing, but the real hero of the day was Micah-man, who decided to hike out of Muir Valley on his own, from the furthest crag in the valley. Yoli has actually contacted Dr. Weber (Dr. Weber and his wife own Muir Valley) to find out the official numbers.Micah, who just turned two, hiked up from Coyote Cliff to the parking lot pavilion completely on his own in just under an hour. He traveled 6840 feet (1.3 miles) with an overall gain in elevation of 310 feet up the new south trail that ascends hundreds of stairs and steep hiking. That's like taking the stairs up a 30-story building. Multiple groups of passing climbers were super impressed, giving Micah high-fives along the way. We kept asking Micah if he wanted a break and he would just say "I'm good!" as he kept soldiering on. We are very proud of him.

Our little hiker!

Wheeeeeeeeee!

Working on his VB problem

Snack time to celebrate the send!

On the last day, we skirted the crowds and visited Eastern Sky Bridge. Chuck and I got on a super crazy looking trad line that starts up a dihedral into a horizontal roof crack with no feet, and then GOES UP THROUGH A HOLE!? Yes, through a hole. Crazy good times. Chuck led it and I followed. I'm pretty confident that it's the hardest 5.9 I've ever been on.

Chuck the Man starting The Underling (5.9)

Approaching the passageway...

Until next time!