Wapta

A great few days with some of my best friends up on the Wapta. Its always good when we can get together as we all have very busy and difficult to sync schedules. Jon-Vice Presedent Quality- Covenant Health, G-Philosophy Instructor, Mike-Organic Chemist and me, your friendly sales rep. Every one of these trips with these guys is a keeper.

Mike with small camera bag.
Bow Headwall
Patagonia rep
G.
Jonson and Skin
Glacier and North Rhonda.
Sastrugi.

Thanks guys, don't change.

Guiness Stout

Had a great day of ice climbing in Field yesterday with my friend Drew. We climbed the mega classic Guiness Gully which then continues on the Guiness Stout with a bit of walking. The route "Stout" is positioned quite high on Mt. Denis, near the alpine in fact and it is a very cool place to swing the tools and look around. Its been years since I felt the ice climbing love I must admit but this year I am really feeling great to be out again. Skiing has become my center passion in winter time and although adventure and stellarness abounds when on skis, to me nothing compares to the risk=rewards that winter climbing can give. With the epicenter of ice climbing so close, its easy to take it for granted. I remember visiting ice climbers coming to Valhalla back when asking if its a good year for ice climbing, my standard line was "Its always a good year for ice climbing", its just that good all the time here!


Drew nearing the top of "Stout"

Screw cleanin'
Drew on the first pitch of Guiness Gully.

Thanks for the good day buddy!

Red Rocks- Vegas

I had the chance to do a quick "credit card" trip to Red Rocks last week and it was really great. There was a time, a few short years ago that I would be on the road every winter to some sunny climbing local and it was great to have a mini-road trip again. Red Rocks is a truly great place for a moderate level climber like me, so many super classic long routes and excellent sport climbing.


Hiking to "sunny and steep" a great spot where you can get your T-Rex ski arms back into shape in under 5 hours.
Classic crack climbing on Windy Peak, Diet Delight.

Another good thing was that I could reconnect with my good buddy Leigh for this trip. Her and I used to travel south often to escape the winters cold when we were mostly just rock climbers. We both got worked on the few climbs we could do in 5 days...highlights were..Solar Flare 5.10 5 pitches of glorious gear climbing, Diet Delight 5.9 4 pithes, Windy Peak..Our first route there and a good primer. Kraft boulders, Calico 2 and Sunny and steep...oh yeah...and Atman!