Long Canyon and Big Bend

Long Canyon

The Shipyard - Long Canyon

Black n Stacks - Offwidth City

Emily on the Black Box - Big Bend

The Shipyard - Long Canyon

Heather on the Black Box Boulder - Big Bend

Indy Eaton on the Roadside Boulder - Big Bend

Heather and Emily at the Shipyard - Long Canyon

EPIC

It's nothing like climbing, but it's still adventurous

I thought this would be worthwhile to post on my blog. Here's the story:

I've been inspired by the long, steep, chutes and couloir's on the northwest face of Sheep Mountain in the Snake River Range. About a month ago, a few friends and i explored one of the chutes on Windy Peak which is a sub peak of Sheep. I am intimidated by the amazing lines on Sheep as they could be very dangerous in the wrong snow conditions. You are exposed to huge cliffs below you at times as you snake around them.

I got one step closer to skiing the big couloir on Sheep's northwest face yesterday. Scott and I got a little more familiar with this side of the mountain. Our plan was to ski the big couloir if conditions were right, but as we performed several snow stability tests on our way up, we were both somewhat concerned and opted for a slightly more protected line to the west. We skied the lower portion of the couloir as shown in the video above.

In typical Dean fashion, it was an adventure with a lot of uncertainty, caution, and in the end success on something new. What a cool adventure.

the positive side of negative - is there one?

I went climbing this afternoon for a couple of hours. Bouldering to be specific. I was on overload from Mammut Team management tasks that i had to get away from my computer for a little bit of mental health! The sun was out and temps were in the low 30's. It felt great. The stone was cold and sharp; two things my skin is not conditioned for. In less than a week i'll be in Red Rocks, Nevada for the Rendezvous. I have two all day clinics for this event; both are multi-pitch efficiency. Bouldering - is there a better way to prep for my clinics? Seriously, i'll just tell my class that kids these days don't have any interest in multi-pitch climbing and since we're walking past the Craft Boulders, we may as well go bouldering! I bet it will work!!

On a serious note, i'll be in Indian Creek with Heather and a few friends the week after Red Rocks - man am i glad i've been bouldering in the gym and bouldering outside to prepare for that too! I am excited though to meet up with my friend Paul Robinson post Red Rocks for a bit of... bouldering?? Oh wait, i think he wanted to do some sport climbing in St. George.... hmmm, maybe i should boulder some more tomorrow?


Okay seriously. I had fun today. Explored some great choss and came up with a few new problems: The Me, Myself, and I Comp Problem (above photo) and the Dead Goat with Pigeon Feather Headstone (left). I didn't send either of them as i was too busy trying to take photos of myself! But like i said at the beginning of this paragraph... i had fun.

I wonder what kind of melt down tomorrow will bring? Deep water soloing along the South Fork of the Snake River? Maybe i'll just go to the gym instead.

i went climbing....for real!

Some sunshine and warm temps brought about this strange sensation to go rock climbing! Weird i know. I drove out to Midget Widget by myself with a rope and some crash pads for a quick afternoon solo/boulder session, but discovered a very snow covered road stopping me dead in my tracks several miles before the crag. Bummer.

I thought it would be a perfect spring-like day to crag at South Park but knowing the area is closed for wintering mule deer, i only had two other options - Heise Rock or the gym! Sadly enough i could not bring myself to climb at Heise Rock so i sat in the sun on my front porch for a little while soaking up the warm rays. As soon as Heather got home we headed to our local gym. We had fun for the most part.

I am happy to say that i am completely out of rock climbing shape and i'm very happy about that! I doubt i'm capable of climbing 5.11 right now which might be a really tuff pill to swallow for some climbers, but not me! I like working hard to get into shape. Gym climbing isn't so much about the scene. My only needs for atmosphere are positive people, energizing music with a driving beat and some aggression, and chalk dust! I got totally destroyed in just a few short hours. I fell off of almost everything i got on and loved every minute of it. I know i did something right as i was wicked sore the next day.

Right now my focus is to gain some base fitness over the next couple of weeks before my trip to Red Rocks and then to Indian Creek with Heather and a few friends from around here. After that i think the TeNialator and i have plans to start development on what could be "the future" for area climbers. Lots of route potential, lots of variety, and lots of limestone! NO, it's not west of Idaho Falls!

I've got some great trips in mind this year and it appears another international trip in likely for Heather and I this summer! I think we'll run the gamut of styles this year with some sport climbing, trad climbing and likely some alpine rock and mixed climbing along with some new route development with TeNgiao at the new sector. It should e an awesome year for climbing if we can stay injury free!