Cracks & Dihedrals

Dihedral Route

Thursday afternoon I dropped off Marc at the Denver International Airport so he could go to New York. Driving Little Blue in the winter is incredibly nerve-wrecking. Especially when you are driving a few hours and only have a short-window of time before the sun sets and the roads start getting icy and really slippery. And well with Little Blue and her infamous past and known to not have decent traction, I decided to stay and crash on a couch in Boulder with my new friends, Meg and Matt.

That evening, they both took me to the Boulder Rock Club. This place was incredibly happening. Sooooo many climbers in the gym. Back at the Delaware Rock Gym (DRG), I do not think if there was ever a time that there were more than 10-people in that gym at once...except for a birthday party or something.

But I got to try out a whole bunch of routes that ranged from 5.6-5.9. I think I am getting better and more comfortable every time I climb. Also, I challenged myself to my first dihedral and crack climbs! This was sooo fun and exciting. I wish Marc was there to see me attempt and accomplish them (almost).

Slowly Getting Up!

Matt said that I would do well with the dihedral route. Right before we got into the midst of climbing, we took an hour-yoga class to warm up for climbing. I missed yoga and most of my flexibility and balance came back to my body pretty quick. Matt stated that since I was pretty flexible and had really good balance, dihedrals would be perfect for me. The dihedral at the gym was solely balance and full body pressures against both walls, and so my dancer background would help me with this route. I did really well: took it slow, there was one part of the route that was pretty challenging, but I was able to shimmy, push, and mantle my way up to the top! Such an awesome accomplishment! I'm not going to lie, I can't wait to try it out on real rocks!

Then my next challenge: cracks. Meg is an awesome teacher as far as explaining out techniques I need to work on, as well as how to go about climbing cracks. Let me tell you, it's hard and painful. I cannot believe you can use your hands as fists and your feet as your equipment to help you excel up a vertical crack route...unbelievable! But I made it maybe 1/3 of the way up the route before my hands and body were getting pretty tired. I've got some homework. 

But overall, I was pretty proud of myself and really excited to continue working on these two types of climbing. I wish it was not snowing everywhere...I want to go try these outside!

TheChristyBel

Snowy Flat Irons!

Climbing the Bee Hive in Vedauwoo

This afternoon, we decided to explore more of Vedauwoo. I have heard wonderful things about the Beehive Buttress near Happy Jack and the Lincoln Monument off the highway. So we choose to go check it out! In order to get there, you take Blair-Wallis Road from the Lincoln Monument towards the central area. From there you make a left onto 705J (note: it is unmarked and rough), and then another left onto 705JA until the road becomes too narrow to drive and it looks like you've hit a circle parking lot amongst the trees. After parking your car, you take a small trail or the ATV trail to the base of the rock wall.

This place was awesome. We had the whole crag to ourselves for the first hour of climbing. The routes are a huge variety of 5.6 to 5.11+, and most of the routes are sport climbs (routes with bolts up to the anchors, so you just clip your draws in as you lead climb up). But Marc and I both got to do three climbs each. The three routes we chose were to the far left of the wall, right next to each other. They all used the same anchor, which was at the base of a roof. I think they varied from 5.5, 5.6, and 5.10a! The first one was called Gypsie Fire (5.5), the next one was Rip Chords (5.6), and the last one was Walking the Board. Marc led all the routes as I belayed him from the ground. Note this is a great place to practice lead belaying (since I am still new to this activity, it was great to use these routes and practice how much slack and taught rope I need to give to the person I am belaying as they lead climb). But anyways, after Marc would lead up the route, secure the anchors, and would come back down, I would follow, collect the gear and then he would top rope belay me down. On our last route, Walking the board, I followed Marc up to the anchor to where we practiced rappelling again. This was definitely the highlight of my day: not only did I rappel down without hesitation, but I climbed my first 5.10a! Getting onto the rock was really challenging, but I also overcame climbing on an arete (a thin, knife-like, ridge of rock), which had little to no holds and a small crack to place the tips of my fingers in. Basically, I had to body shimmy my way up it to get to the anchor! Such a climbing accomplishment for this beginner!

TheChristyBel

A Day Outside - Climbing Blacktail Butte

Today was the first day in a little more than three weeks, where I was able to sleep in, embrace the outdoors, and not worry about school or teaching! With yesterday being many of the grad students' last day with their summer capstone program, today was the first day that I could dedicate the entire day to ME! So can you guess what I did?!?! 

Well, one, I slept in until like 9:00am (you may think this is early, but since I've been getting up at 6:45am the past three weeks, 9:00am is a great sleeping in achievement). Then it was about time I embraced the outdoors - without students! So many options: I wanted to hike Specimen Ridge, but that fell through based on scheduling of things (this is postponed for mid-August). Then there was this offer to hike and climb up the Middle Teton, but that also fell through. Then it was decided to that the today was the day to finally start using my climbing gear to the test and go a little smaller than the Middle - Blacktail Butte!

Not going to lie, I enjoy and prefer bouldering over top-rope and lead climbing since I am not used to those two activities on the rock, but overall, had a really great time learning something new. Climbing up onto the rock was not the challenging part - it was the confidence and trust of being belayed down. Not quite sure why, but all these scary thoughts of the rope giving out or my knots coming undone - really freak me out and give me so much hesitation to actually lean back into my harness and let someone lower me down...But, I did it - up and down the Lower Blacktail Butte wall! Andafter a few times of getting used to the rock and being belayed down, my worries are slowly declining. It will take some time, but I have a feeling I'm going to like this activity! 

Today was amazing! Being able to sleep in, play outside, and participate in activities on your own time was beyond anything I could ask for after straight teaching for three-weeks! Literally - the best day ever! Enjoy some photos that were captured!

TheChristyBel

Marc & I at the Top of the Upper Blacktail Butte!
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

Of Course There Was a Summit Pose Involved!
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

A Well Deserved Lunch & Soak in the Sun at the Shores of Jenny Lake!
Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

Then the Evening was Topped with Home-Made Paleo Chocolate-Hazelnut Ice Cream!