Cat in the Hat and the Gila Monster
Hi All,
I hope this post find everyone doing well.
About three weeks ago Janice and I went to Red Rocks outside of Las Vegas and did our first serious multi-pitch trad climb together. A very elementary explanation of what multi-pitch means is instead of going up 80 or 90 feet and then coming right back down, the climber goes up around 100 feet and then another 100 feet and then another, depending on how high the climb is, this is called a pitch and then usually does a series of repels to get down.
This climb is called Cat in the Hat, is rated at 5.6 and is one of the many classics in Red Rocks.
Here is Janice coming up the second pitch.
Here is a view of Oak Creek Canyon from the top of the second pitch. We had this view all day. You can tell why it is one of the classics. It has the whole spectrum. Location, view, great rock, challenging approach, exposure,...
Still on second pitch. You can see Janice's red helmet.
A little closer.
Here is Janice on top of the second pitch belaying for me. She is on the ledge with the tree.
Janice coming up the third pitch, with Oak Creek Canyon behind.
Two weirdos at the top of pitch three.
This is Janice coming up our pitch 4 but pitch five in the guide book. We ran the fourth and fifth pitches together. It was kind of scary to do that because I had to run it out about 30 or 35 feet before I could put in a piece of gear or protection.
Still on the 4th/5th pitch. You can feel the exposure. This means when you are climbing it feel like there is nothing but air below you.
Here is Janice on the top, with the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon behind. Check out the guns. :) :)
Here is me throwing the two ropes from the top. This would be the first of four double rope repels.
Janice repelling down the second pitch.
I think the world likes to show Janice and I just how small it is. After our repel down the second pitch we ran into two guys coming up the climb. I got to talking to them and it turns out one of them was born and raised in Manistee, MI. I did not know him but he knew some of my friends in Manistee. It is truly a small world.
This is a Gila Monster. It is pronounced something like Hee-la Monster. These are and threatened species here in AZ and it is rare to see them in the wild. Janice found this one in our driveway. It was the first time I have seen one in the wild. They are poisonous but very mellow. They don't really strike like a snake. They have strong, powerful jaws and will latch on and have to grind their teeth to release their venom. So, in other words you would have to really mess with it to get bitten by one.
As I write this post Janice is on the Colorado River floating thru the Upper Grand Canyon for a week. In a few days I will be hiking down Bright Angel trail to Pipe Creek and meeting the boats. I will see Janice on the trail as she heads out and I head in. I will be doing the second part of the trip for a week. We have such great friends. Thanks Kim.
We will post picture in a couple of weeks.
Peace Out,
Geoff
I hope this post find everyone doing well.
About three weeks ago Janice and I went to Red Rocks outside of Las Vegas and did our first serious multi-pitch trad climb together. A very elementary explanation of what multi-pitch means is instead of going up 80 or 90 feet and then coming right back down, the climber goes up around 100 feet and then another 100 feet and then another, depending on how high the climb is, this is called a pitch and then usually does a series of repels to get down.
This climb is called Cat in the Hat, is rated at 5.6 and is one of the many classics in Red Rocks.
Here is Janice coming up the second pitch.
Here is a view of Oak Creek Canyon from the top of the second pitch. We had this view all day. You can tell why it is one of the classics. It has the whole spectrum. Location, view, great rock, challenging approach, exposure,...
Still on second pitch. You can see Janice's red helmet.
A little closer.
Here is Janice on top of the second pitch belaying for me. She is on the ledge with the tree.
Janice coming up the third pitch, with Oak Creek Canyon behind.
Two weirdos at the top of pitch three.
This is Janice coming up our pitch 4 but pitch five in the guide book. We ran the fourth and fifth pitches together. It was kind of scary to do that because I had to run it out about 30 or 35 feet before I could put in a piece of gear or protection.
Still on the 4th/5th pitch. You can feel the exposure. This means when you are climbing it feel like there is nothing but air below you.
Here is Janice on the top, with the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon behind. Check out the guns. :) :)
Here is me throwing the two ropes from the top. This would be the first of four double rope repels.
Janice repelling down the second pitch.
I think the world likes to show Janice and I just how small it is. After our repel down the second pitch we ran into two guys coming up the climb. I got to talking to them and it turns out one of them was born and raised in Manistee, MI. I did not know him but he knew some of my friends in Manistee. It is truly a small world.
This is a Gila Monster. It is pronounced something like Hee-la Monster. These are and threatened species here in AZ and it is rare to see them in the wild. Janice found this one in our driveway. It was the first time I have seen one in the wild. They are poisonous but very mellow. They don't really strike like a snake. They have strong, powerful jaws and will latch on and have to grind their teeth to release their venom. So, in other words you would have to really mess with it to get bitten by one.
As I write this post Janice is on the Colorado River floating thru the Upper Grand Canyon for a week. In a few days I will be hiking down Bright Angel trail to Pipe Creek and meeting the boats. I will see Janice on the trail as she heads out and I head in. I will be doing the second part of the trip for a week. We have such great friends. Thanks Kim.
We will post picture in a couple of weeks.
Peace Out,
Geoff
posted by Geoff at 5:48 PM
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