Climb 21 - Tuesday Oct 14 - The Egg

It has been cold lately.  So cold that one would think winter was right around the corner.  This assumption, however, would be quickly debunked if you were to go outside this afternoon.  It was sunny and the weather was warm.  I suppose I can wait a little longer for winter... but not much longer.  I had an InDesign class at SLCC this afternoon (as paid for by my office).  This allowed me to be home at an hour more condusive to climbing.  Carvel and I went up Little Cottonwood Canyon to climb the Egg.  I had never climbed there and it had been some time since Carvel had.  There was a nice new trail to follow, but we missed it on the way up.  We followed some old directions and they took us through some interesting terrain.  We eventually made it to where all we had to do was scramble across the rock face to get to the base of the climb.  Why is it that this part is always the scariest to me?  Ugh.  It took me a while, but I made it.  Then Carvel lead the climb.  It was a long one which he lead with two ropes.  He got a little off route on the way up giving us a taste of all the climbs on the Egg.  When he eventually made it to the top I then got things together and followed.  I had no issues in the cracks, but as soon as I got out on the face I just got a little sketched out.  It turns out that face climbing with small holds is not my gig.  I like face climbing with big holds (even if it is overhanging) or crack climbing.  I did make it and then it was time to descend.  It took us a while as there was some problem solving involved in this task.  This is one of the things I like about trad climbing - I like the thinking aspect of it all.  We hiked back down by headlamp and made it to the car around 7:45.  Remember when it didn't get dark until 9:30?  This is only another sign of the impending winter.  I had a good time this afternoon.  I apologize for the lack of photos.  It is just hard to do when there are only two of you.  I plan to take a lot more photos this winter so get excited.  There should be some good ones as I have been learning more and more about photography and how to use my camera.  Until then, On Rock.