After the race this morning I took a bit of nap, then mowed the lawn, then I was ready for some more recreation. Mark came over at about 4:45 and we drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon then hiked a bit to the Pentapitch Buttress. The idea was to climb all five pitches of Pentapitch, but this didn't work out for us. First we started climbing the wrong crack. We were about 15 meters up canyon for actual Pentapitch climbing something completely different. The climb seemed really hard for a 5.6 and I just wasn't figuring it out. Then I did. You have to realize that the one time I have been to Pentapitch before was with Jer and there was a massive snow field at the bottom of the climb, so I didn't know what it looked like. Once we figured it out, we made our way down to the actual Pentapitch crack. Some people were just getting off the climb, so we probably would not have been able to climb it before this time, anyway. It took me a little while to lead the first pitch as I just haven't been trad climbing much lately and it takes time figuring out which
gear to place and where. Mark quickly climbed up to me cleaning the gear. I lead the second and third pitches next (I skipped the second pitch belay station on the way up). These were fun pitches. 5.8 and some fun climbing moves. Mark came to meet me after struggling to get a nut out, but eventually succeeding. We then had a quick rappelling lesson (as it was already beginning to get dark and we had three pitches to rappel - not to mention the hike back out), and then we
were on our way. We had to rappel off the second belay station on the way down since we were only on half of the rope. By the time we reached the first belay station it was getting pretty dark out. Mark went first so he would have a little light to get his stuff together at the base. I followed and arrived at the bottom in the dark. Good thing I had my trusty Petzl headlamp. We quickly cleaned up and then began the hike back to the car. This includes a walk across a large talus/boulder field which we had to take slowly so we could both take advantage of the headlamp. We didn't get back to the car until nearly 10:30. It had been a long outing. It had been a fun outing. I think Mark dug the multipitch action. I know I did. I love tris and all, but I am looking forward to the end of the tri season so I can focus a little more on climbing. On Rock.
After the race this morning I took a bit of nap, then mowed the lawn, then I was ready for some more recreation. Mark came over at about 4:45 and we drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon then hiked a bit to the Pentapitch Buttress. The idea was to climb all five pitches of Pentapitch, but this didn't work out for us. First we started climbing the wrong crack. We were about 15 meters up canyon for actual Pentapitch climbing something completely different. The climb seemed really hard for a 5.6 and I just wasn't figuring it out. Then I did. You have to realize that the one time I have been to Pentapitch before was with Jer and there was a massive snow field at the bottom of the climb, so I didn't know what it looked like. Once we figured it out, we made our way down to the actual Pentapitch crack. Some people were just getting off the climb, so we probably would not have been able to climb it before this time, anyway. It took me a little while to lead the first pitch as I just haven't been trad climbing much lately and it takes time figuring out which
gear to place and where. Mark quickly climbed up to me cleaning the gear. I lead the second and third pitches next (I skipped the second pitch belay station on the way up). These were fun pitches. 5.8 and some fun climbing moves. Mark came to meet me after struggling to get a nut out, but eventually succeeding. We then had a quick rappelling lesson (as it was already beginning to get dark and we had three pitches to rappel - not to mention the hike back out), and then we
were on our way. We had to rappel off the second belay station on the way down since we were only on half of the rope. By the time we reached the first belay station it was getting pretty dark out. Mark went first so he would have a little light to get his stuff together at the base. I followed and arrived at the bottom in the dark. Good thing I had my trusty Petzl headlamp. We quickly cleaned up and then began the hike back to the car. This includes a walk across a large talus/boulder field which we had to take slowly so we could both take advantage of the headlamp. We didn't get back to the car until nearly 10:30. It had been a long outing. It had been a fun outing. I think Mark dug the multipitch action. I know I did. I love tris and all, but I am looking forward to the end of the tri season so I can focus a little more on climbing. On Rock.
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