So, I had to get back up to Frustration creek today after my failed attempt at the First Ascent of my new route The Expedition yesterday. All morning I was feeling anxious and nervous about attempting it again because I didn't want to blow it again today. On top of that, my legs are really sore from the two games of football that I played yesterday morning, but I knew that if I could put myself in the right mindset it would go down.
We finally left the house at around 10:45 and headed up the canyon. After we arrived I took my time getting the gear out and ready, getting the camera set up, and just looking up at the route contemplating the moves. Eventually, I decided that standing around wasn't going to help anything, so I roped up and started up the route. The first four bolts are easy climbing at around 5.8, but once you hit the fifth bolt there is no stopping until you get to the anchors. Because of this, when I got to the fourth bolt, I clipped it, then just stood on the good juggy holds below the fourth bolt for a few minutes as I prepared myself mentally for the send.
After a couple of minutes of standing there preparing myself mentally, I felt ready, so I just went for it. I ended up not having any problems at all. The crux felt great and I didn't get pumped at all, at the last bolt one of my feet skated off of it's hold, but both my hands and my other foot were great, so that wasn't a problem, and I reached the anchors easily. It felt great, especially after my failed attempts from yesterday.
Starting the easy juggy section.
Waiting, relaxing, and getting my head in the game.
Pulling through the crux.
Finishing the crux.
Clipping the chains.
Lowering after the FA of "The Expedition" - 5.11b.
After getting down and cutting the red tag off the route I decided to give my other new route (Primal Quest) a try. Unfortunately that didn't go as well as I would have hoped. I had my usual problems with the crux move (all though I do seem to be getting a lot closer), then there were a bunch of wasps all over between the fourth and fifth bolts, so I opted to just lower off so that I wouldn't get attacked.
Amy wasn't feeling very good at this point, so I decided to try soloing one of Brent's new routes, a 5.2 called Just the Tip, while Amy rested in the shade. That went well other than the fact that the entire route was completely covered in lots of nice loose dirt which made it quite exciting for a 5.2 especially since I was free soloing it;)
Since Amy wasn't feeling very good, but still wanted to climb something, we decided to do the first pitch of The Dead Terrorist next. Amy didn't want to lead, so I roped up to run up and set up a TR for her, but when I arrived at the anchors to Rumble in the Rubble, Amy asked me to just clip them and come down because she really wasn't feeling well. I came down, Amy rested in the shade, then she TR'd Rumble in the Rubble.
Rumble in the Rubble - 5.7
Now of course Danny had been begging to climb his route the whole time we were up there, so we finished off the day by letting him climb it twice. One awesome thing was the fact that on his second time climbing his route we were able to lower him and he did great. Normally I have to climb up to him, clip him to myself, then basically drag him down (which he loves by the way). It's exciting to see him learn to lower himself though since that is much easier for me.
After Danny was finished climbing we packed up and headed home for a Thanksgiving Dinner leftovers lunch and naps for the kids.
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