The week started off with a trip to Cochise for Mike, Paul, and me. Long story short, we got on the wrong route. Fortunately it wasn't finished so I ended up about 40' run out looking for pro or bolts. I don't know why I was looking for pro. All we had was four tri-cams and three hexes because we were supposed to be on a bolted route. Won't make that mistake again. Mike did have two very nice leads on some very hard slab. We later found out that the route is unfinished. That must be why the bolts ended so abruptly, and that it is supposed to be very hard. Live and learn.
Wednesday the family agreed to go climbing so we invited a bunch of our friends, and guess what? A bunch of our friends came. What a good day. I only wish Ryan had been off so he could have come too. Here is Bob and Vivian. They make such a great climbing team.
Lori Olsen came too. Here she is on her second ever outdoor lead. I have never seen a new leader with such a cool head. It doesn't hurt that she is super strong. She was breaking in a new rope and draws from Christmas. I think her husband did very well.
It was nice to have my kids along. They don't want to go climbing very often so it is a real treat to get them outside to see what their dad spends so much time doing.
Mike came. It was good to have him. I wish his family had made it. He helped belay so everyone got in plenty of climbing. He also made sure to climb a 10 so I would feel obligated to follow so as to not be out done.
Brett even showed up. I wasn't sure he was still climbing. At least with me. I figured it had something to do with my new climbing motto: "Safety Third".
Amy even climbed. I think she would be pretty good at it if she decided to work at it.
Tyler had a great time. He worked his way up several climbs, and was a real trooper for such a long day. He chattered away to me all the way back to the truck. I think he may end up being a climber.
Some dirty hippie showed up too. No one seemed to mind to bad. I know he had a great time.
Friday Mike and I headed up to Chimney Rock so that I could try to onsight Mistaken Identity. Notice I said try. I went to make the crux move, and went for the sucker hold. I was able to lower back to a stance without going onto the rope, and made a second try although the move was significantly harder. My foot popped, and I went for a ride. It was a short ride though. Maybe twelve feet?
The only problem is that I went for a ride on this cam. It's not very big, but it was the only piece that would fit. I am pretty confident in these little cams now as long as they are well placed. It came right out too even after being loaded, hard.
Look at the size of the lobes compared to my fingers. Anyone else want to whip on it?
I finished the climb, and figured out the crux. Then Mike took his turn. He got suckered by the awful hold too, (maybe because of all the chalk I left on it), and then his foot popped. I saw the wind in his hair, the chalk flying out of his chalkbag, and his arms windmilling. He was going for a very long ride. I moved to take in as much rope as I could, but Mike caught his heals. He inverted, and then came to a sudden stop when he hit the end of the rope and the wall at the same time. There was silence for several seconds. I wasn't sure Mike was OK, or even conscious. It was the most scarred I had ever been while climbing. Then he said he was alright. He righted himself, and asked to be lowered.
It turns out that Mike is a little banged up. His shoulder hurts, he has some rock rash, and a tweaked knee. Not to bad for an inverted twenty+ footer (without a helmet too).
I went up to retrieve Mike's gear, and was able to pull the crux. We decided that was enough fun for one day. I went home and went for a run because I was so happy to be alive..........still.
