apAdventures

Posted by arr

It’s official, people. Paul sent Slashface!!! Yesterday afternoon, after what started off as a nightmare of a day due to our radio being dead as a doornail because of accidentally being left on all weekend, we finally got things working and bolted up to East Mountain around 2pm. Paul pulled on, and was topping out not three minutes later….first try of the day. It was just us and the kids and we all went nuts when it was over. Paul’s first v13: Slashface.

And although Paul finally doing Slashface is very big news, he wasn’t the only one who cranked hard this fall. We’ve also got some honorable mentions to report:

During the last year of all those Slashface attempts, I had found myself a project nearby to try. Ultramega, v8. Done!

Jen rolled in all the way from Pittsburgh and made very quick work of Hector in a Blender, v7. Done!

….and also Tri Hard, v4. Done!

Brian came heartbreakingly close to completing Mojo, v10.

And a similar story for Jen on Big Iron on his Hip, v7. Next year for sure you two!!

And finally, my last big send of the year was Greasy Kid Stuff, v4. This is HUGE NEWS! Cause Greasy Kid Stuff might very well rank as Hueco’s WORST and HARDEST v4 EVER!!!!!! Woohoo!

And of course let’s not forget these handsome boys. Honorable mentions for good looking boys all around! It won’t be too long before these little crushers start sending hard boulders too.

..from Hueco! Following through with what is now our yearly tradition, we celebrated the holiday climbing at Hueco Tanks with our Pittsburgh friends, Brian and Jen and kids. Yesterday the weather held nicely for the fixin’ of our big feast: turkey stew, raw kale salad with root vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce, applesauce, pickles, olives and pickled beets and pumpkin pie that we made with the Vitamix. Mmmmm. Power food! Having a great time. Climbing news and photos to be posted soon.

posted by arr

Summer is now officially over and the Hueco Tanks trips have started back up. Paul is eager (to say the least!) to get back on Slashface, having fallen off the top of it last spring on our final trip of the season.

Here are some glimpses of our Hueco “pre-season.”

I sent this pic to my parents and siblings with the caption, “Whoever can guess what’s new in this photo is ultimate winner of the year.” My mom guessed correctly immediately – WE’RE NOT CARRYING ANY KIDS!!!!!

After 6 years of kid-hauling, I’m wondering if my v-ability will spontaneously jump three grades, haha. Figured I’d test out this theory on Revenge of the Choir Boys, v9.

I can do all the moves except 1 on this burly beast of a climb. Woo!

It’s been a rainy fall here in the southwest. Check out these skies. Thunderstorm approaching fast.

Paul figures out new beta on Fat Apache Jogger, v8…

…making this climb actually fun now.

Back at it on Slashface, v13

The one drawback to the Hueco pre-season, warm temps and soft skin

My morning cup

The kids have really taken to climbing.

Can’t seem to get enough of it, shown here climbing on the campsite shade roof.

Everybody needs a rock

…and this boy needs a snack

Water-filled Huecos on East Mountain

Mo Mojo, v11

Cuties

Back at it on Ultramega, v8

On East Mountain with West in the backdrop

Porn Again, v7

On a whim we decided to do what we’ve coined a “West Mountain Wild Card” day. The rules: forget the projects and climb as many problems as possible in areas we don’t typically go to

…because they’re hard to get to! Here we are at the Between the Sheets area way up on West Mountain, 1 hour after leaving the van.

Hardcore little hikers

Nice view for a snack

Topping out some warm-ups

The start to Between the Sheets, v4

Between the Sheets, v4

The Umbra of Discontent, v4

Superhero

Silas on an actual rockclimb!!!

Ivan too! …well, sorta.

Homer Simpson, v3

posted by arr

And the final destinations:
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Durango, Colorado

And now on to Fall 2015. Hope we have just as many adventures to report!!

Posted by arr

Next stop:
Poudre Canyon, Colorado

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Next stop:
Triassic, Utah

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Next stop:
Joe’s Valley, Utah

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Better one year late than never. Here is the video account of our 10 year wedding anniversary bouldering trip we took last fall. And with fall now upon us, hopefully these will drum up some climbing psyche!! Enjoy!!

First stops:
Priest Draw, Arizona
Ibex, Utah

Posted by arr

posted by arr