| | -
-
-
-
-
-
-
| |  |
|
1 |
-
-
-
|
| | |
| |
| | |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | I wanted to get back on multipitch, after last season's debacle on Frogland. Our original plan was to do Olive Oil.. it's an attractive option since there is not only a top-out, but also a walk-off, so no goofing around with rappels and anchors and all that biz. Then we started thinking about it.. maybe something closer would be nicer. Cookie Monster? Cat in the Hat? Then John spotted Birdland and was pretty certain he could remember how to do it again, from years back. No beta, no problem! It wasn't a walk-off, but seemed easy (and fun) enough.. so, onward!
We got to the base of the climb, just as two others were getting ready to go up. Then two women we'd met in the parking lot also joined us. They had two 60m ropes, but we figured we'd be nice and let them rappel off our 70m rope to save on weight. Went up the five pitches without too much of a problem. I did get a little nervous (obvious if you know me.. I stop talking when I'm nervous/scared!), but didn't have any panic until I was literally a foot or two from the last anchor. Tiny crack systems are not my thing, but I made it up without slipping, and all was good! We had a quick laugh back down at the top of pitch 4, trying to make room for an ascending climber while four of us were already sharing the barest of ledges -- I got caught up in everyone's anchors while trying to duck under them, and ended up in a pretty compromised position. But all was well, and once at the bottom we ate and then hiked out, making it to the parking lot well before the sun could set. Very exciting to finally finish a multipitch! And I didn't even once wish I was on the ground instead of being on the wall. 
And BTW I would like to give credit to John and the ladies we met on the climb for the great pictures. None of these were mine this time around. |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
