Dispatches from Hoth

I thought winter climbing was all about finding the boulders that get sun and stay warm despite December's chill. Wrong. Winter climbing is about finding the rocks that never receive sunlight or solar warmth of any kind, and are accessible only by frozen river crossings.

Witness this recreation of a real photo of Lewis and Clark making their historic crossing of the Poudre River:

Photo: Sacagawea

The air was harsh and cold, the ice beneath our feet slippery. Nevertheless, we fastened our scarves tight about our necks and soldiered on.

 

 

Ryan received employee of the day honors for

a) his sick ice-ramp toe grab:

b) finding an amazing new crack project:

 

Seriously, Hayden, why do you drive all the way to Utah for this shit?

and c) discovering new, 5.9 beta for Ice 9:

 

There was also a new sport developed that day, but perhaps it's best to let the folks at Too Ugly for the Spot hash out those details.

The Feather

Not the Feather, alas. Instead, Red Feather. Which isn't a bad thing. Despite cool temps and a long walk on a snow-crusted road, we came to a climbable boulder called The Chopper.

B3PO, our guide and firestarter

 

Christ Craft

 

 

Despite being low to the ground, The Chopper is a remarkably good climb.  The first move, a powerful stab to a decent incut, is by far the crux, and after that come a few tenuous moves and a fun, Tigerstrike!!-approved mantle-press. We postulated that if it were on the boulder behind the Dali Wall, it would see more traffic than that boulder's namesake. Probably an exaggeration, but the point is that The Chopper, and Red Feather in general, is good. Very good.

To complete the day we saw a small herd (troop? gathering?) of deer, who seemed utterly uninterested in our activities. We joked that if it came down to it, none of us could cook, let alone capture, kill, and prepare, one of the deer. Grizzly Adams we ain't.