Showing posts with label #Turning60andClimbingAboutIt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Turning60andClimbingAboutIt. Show all posts

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Turning 60 & Climbing About It!



It's 2019 and it's the big 6-0 this year! Yes, I turn 60 July 10th and what better way to celebrate than to climb, climb, climb throughout the entire year! My big 60 goal would be to make 60 outdoor climbing pitches by the end of 2019! All disciplines (except bouldering...weeellllll....maybe bouldering!), either on top rope or on lead. I've enlisted the help of my climbing friends and I'm also looking for more to help me on my climbing journey. Follow along on my blog or let's get out to climb!


60 Pitches and Counting!

# of Pitches - Route/Crag - Location - Type - Date
1 - Trestle Slab, Frankenstein Cliffs, Ice Climbing - 1.7.2019
2 - Moss Slab, Stonehouse Pond, Ice Climbing - 1.11.2019
4 - Moss Slab, Stonehouse Pond, Ice Climbing - 1.13.2019
2 - Moss Slab, Stonehouse Pond, Ice Climbing - 1.26.2019
4 - Leprechaun's Lement, Kinsman Notch, Ice Climbing - 2.17.2019
4 - North End Pillars, Cathedral Ledge, Ice Climbing - 2.25.2019
3 - Parking Lot Wall, Rumney, Ice Climbing - 3.2.2019
7 - Moss Slab, Stonehouse Pond, Ice Climbing - 3.3.2019
1 - North End Slab, Cathedral Ledges, Ice Climbing - 3.11.2019
5 - Lost In The Forest, Frankenstein Cliffs, Ice Climbing - 3.17.2019
2 - Parasol Gully, Dixville Notch, Ice Climbing - 4.14.2019
3 - Deer Leap, Rock Climbing, Killington, VT - 5.12.2019
2 - Ship's Prow, Rattlesnake Rocks, MA, Rock Climbing - 5.25.2019
3 - Main Cliff & Meadows, Rumney Rocks, NH - 5.27.2019
5 - Rattlesnake Rocks, MA Rock Climbing, - 6.1.2019
6 - Buffalo Corral, Rumney Rocks, NH - 6.9.2019
4 - Mt. Forist, Rock Climbing, Berlin, NH - 6.22.2019
6 - DLM Memorial - Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing, Mt. Forist, Berlin, NH - 7.4.2019
5 - Buffalo Pit & Buffalo Corral, Rumney Rocks, NH - 7.6.2019
2 - Redrocks, Gloucester, MA - 7.14.2019
4 - Parking Lot Wall, Rumney Rocks, NH - 8.3.2019
1 - Marlow, NH - 8.11.2019
2 - Farley Ledges, MA - 9.28.2019
2 - Thin Air, Cathedral Ledge, NH - 9.29.2019
3 - Ice Cream Parlor, UT - 10.26.2019
4 - Parking Lot Wall & Meadows, Rumney Rocks, NH - 11.1.2019
2 - Leprechaun's Lement, Kinsman Notch, Ice Climbing - 12.22.2019

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Mt. Forist - Multi Pitch Rock Climbing



madigan, mt. forist, rock climbing, slab climbing,
Leading P2 of Madigan (5.6)


If you love slab like I do, go climb Mt. Forist! :)

A stellar day for some multi-pitch rock climbing with Jackie at Mt. Forist in Berlin, NH. The two routes we climbed were a great intro to the climbing and the rock feel of this mountain. In the shade the rock was slick and the climbing felt sketchy. But in the sun, the rock was amazing and uber sticky! We also bumped into Jeff Lea and Tom Callahan, who gave us great beta on the climbing routes there. We started on Madigan with Jackie leading P1 and me finishing up on P2. Then for P1 I lead Nibroc and we finished up with Jackie leading P2 of Brown School. Rain clouds and some thunder showed up quickly while I was making my way up to Jackie at the P2 anchors of Brown School. It turned cold really fast too. We hurried down just in case there was lightening as well. Double 70m got us down in 1 rappel.  Afterward, we all headed to the White Mountain Cafe & Bookstore for some post climbing coffee and sandwiches!

Thanks, Jeff for the photos. And thank you, Jackie, for your help and support for my "Turning 60 and Climbing About It" project!  Enjoy a few photos taken of our day multi-pitch rock climbing at Mt. Forist. Can't wait to get back to do more climbing there!


multi pitch, rock climbing, mt. Forist
Jackie (left) leading P1 of Madigan.
Tom (right) at the anchors of Nibroc


Nibroc, mt. Forist, rock climbing, multi pitch
Jeff at the anchors of Nibroc
(photo taken from P1 anchors of Madigan)



madigan, mt. forist, multi pitch, rock climbing
Bringing Jackie up P2 of Madigan


Brown school, mt. forist, multi pitch, rock climbing
Jeff at the P2 anchors of Brown School
(photo taken from P2 anchors of Madigan)


Nibroc, mt. forist, multi pitch, rock climbing
Bringing Jackie up Nibroc


multi pitch, rock climbing, madigan, nibroc, brown school


Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Memorial Day Weekend 2019 Rock Climbing



Magic Helmet (5.10b), Main Cliff Wall, Rumney Rocks, NH, rock climbing


Rattlesnakes. 

That's the theme for this Memorial Day rock climbing, but it wasn't intentional. Spent Saturday hiking and climbing Rattlesnake Rocks at Rattlesnake Hill with Iskuhi. And on Monday Jackie, Andy and I climbed at the Meadows and the Main Cliff of Rumney Rocks on the south face of Rattlesnake Mountain. What fun climbing with great company! 

And thanks, Iskuhi, Jackie & Andy for the photos and your help and support for my "Turning 60 and Climbing About It" project! 


Meadows & Main Cliff - Rumney Rocks
Rattlesnake Mountain
Rumney, NH

Deceptively hard. So we were on our way to the Main Cliff from Meadows when at the top of the trail we spotted Magic Helmet. Jackie wondered out loud what grade it was and Andy quickly answered, "a 5.3." We stopped to look at and I decided to lead it. Then Jackie looked it up on MP and said it was a 5.10b. *laughs all around* I got on it to lead anyways. Don't know why, but I find slab starts highly attractive. This slab start to the first bolt was a bit slick. And finding those double jugs to side pull up onto a sloping ledge was super cool! But clipping the 4th bolt from that sloping ledge was insane! After clipping the 4th bolt, I still couldn't figure out the sequence to get around the arete so I lowered and Andy and Jackie gave it a go. I still didn't get it after a second chance so I'll be back - after getting more beta and on it as a first climb of the day. It was frustrating not being able to finish, but I did get to lead Supersize Me. Jackie did a great job of leading Rose Garden (5.7). And we ended the day on Supersize Me (5.6) and Fat Man (5.7)

Jackie leading Rose Garden
rose garden, rock climbing, rumney rocks, NH, sport, lead climbing
Along the trail
Shealyn's Way, Centerfold, rock climbing, sport climbing, Rumney Rocks, NH

supersize me, magic helmet, sport climbing, rock climbing, leading, rumney rocks, NH






Ship's Prow - Rattlesnake Rocks
Blue Hills Reservation
Quincy, MA

Iskuhi and I spent the day hiking and climbing Rattlesnake Rocks in the Blue Hills Reservation. I had winter-hiked there a couple of years ago hoping to find the climbing crags but never did find them. Today we found the crags and also found a closer area to park and hike from. There is off-road parking where the Skyline Trail crosses Wampatuck Road, which shortens the hike from the trailhead of the ice rink. There is a gate but it's locked for access only to emergency vehicles and shouldn't be blocked. But if you travel (southwest) along Wampatuck Road (slightly uphill), you will come to another gate, where no parking is allowed. This is mentioned in the guidebook, but what's not mentioned is the large off-road parking between these two gates. There is a trailhead from this parking area and this is easier access to the crags. Use the sidewalk on the other side of the street.




Anyways, like the Deer Leap climbing a couple of weeks ago, this was a recon to find the crags. We also got in several climbs and rappels - Ship's Prow (5.7), Ship's Prow Starboard (5.4) and the ramp section of Hot Shot - White Face. And there was only one other group of two climbing - they did two routes and left. I didn't find any mention in MP or the guidebook, but if you do any top rope setups, bring a long static line. There are no bolted anchors and some of the solid trees are set back a little ways. So with that, enjoy some photos of our day at Rattlesnake Rocks. 


At the top of The Overlook
The Overlook, rattlesnake rocks, rock climbing, cragging, boston

The Ship's Prow
the shp's prow, rattlesnake rocks, rock climbing, cragging, boston

From the top of Ship's Prow
ship's prow, rattlesnake rocks, rock climbing, cragging, boston

Jams of Joy
jams of joy, rattlesnake rocks, rock climbing, cragging, boston

Lay Back Further & Relax A Bit More
lay back further & relax a bit more, rattlesnake rocks, rock climbing, cragging, boston

Iskuhi checking out The Shield
The Shield, rattlesnake rocks, rock climbing, cragging, boston


Burger Boulder
rock climbing, Ship's Prow, Rattlesnake Rocks, Blue Hills Reservation

Monday, May 13, 2019

Deer Leap - Rock Climbing


On Center Crack (5.7)
My first day out on the rock this season and I met up with Jackie and Noah for some Mother's Day climbing in Killington, VT! This was our first time climbing at this roadside crag and we had it all to ourselves, except for the hikers. We met up in the Long Trail trailhead parking lot just across the street from the Inn at Long Trail. Took the hiker's trail to the top of Deer Leap Mountain, and then hiked down a side trail to the base of the climbs of the Main Cliff - Left End. We set up top rope anchor on a set of anchors at the top of the Toot Route (5.7) and climbed the route-starts off The Monkey (5.8), Center Crack (5.7) and Turkeyland (5.8). The rock felt really good, sticky...even the quartz was sticky! Cool-to-cold temps kept the bugs away and on our way out, we hiked down the climber's trail passing the climbs of the Lower Tier. Enjoy some photos of our day climbing at Deer Leap crag. And thanks, Jackie & Noah for the photos and your help and support for my "Turning 60 and Climbing About It" project! 


Jackie on Turkeyland (5.8 PG13)
Noah starting up "The Monkey" and onto "Center Crack"



The Deer Leap Mountain Summit
End of maintained trail - from here we descended to the left

And hiked past this face which I think is the "Upper Tier"

Guidebook


At the base of the Main Cliff - Left End
Looking into "The Pit"
(not really a good photo of the pit)

Start of Off Width (5.6)
The Long Trail trailhead parking lot
from the base of the Main Cliff - Left End


Descending along the Climber's Trail
Yes, it is steep

I think this is the Lower Tier area which is
accessed via the Climber's Trail

The sign at the Deer Leap Overlook Trailhead

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Crack Climbing & Sport Leading Lesson #11



Icy pond next to Salt Pump Gym

Felt great to finish off the week of climbing with a climbing lesson with Tino! I try to get in at least one lead climb a week whether it's outdoor or indoor climbing. It definitely helps to keep a lead head! We worked on "Sloper" holds and I realized that certain body techniques used are very similar to the body techniques used in crack climbing. On my lead lesson, I really love that instead of just clipping my rope into the quickdraws, I get to place the quickdraws! Indoor climbing gyms already have quickdraws set on the lead routes so that the lead climber just clips into them. But since I'm having a lead climbing lesson, Tino put me on routes where there are no quickdraws...the routes with the top rope setups. That way I get to place the quickdraws as well as clip my rope into them - so much more interesting and enjoyable!

During my crack climbing lesson, I found the slightly overhanging, upper section of the crack to be easier than in the past lessons. And so is reading the crack to see the right places for good hands and feet jams. But I felt insecure about some of my jams. "Not all jams will feel totally secure", says Tino. I feel defeated. "Don't worry, you can do this....just climb past the jam", he says. He's right and I am hopeful! Embrace crack climbing! 

Monday, March 18, 2019

Lost In The Forest, Frankenstein Cliff - Ice Climbing




Lost in the woods, frankenstein ice, crawford notch
Leading the right side of Drip In The Woods

We took a look at Willey's Slide from the road and although there was blue ice, there was a lot of snow on the left and bottom of the slide. Plus it was super windy. So Nuno and I opted to check out Frankenstein Ice. Good choice - we stuck to the sheltered Lost In the Woods area. We hiked up to the base of the ice cliffs and there were a pair just finishing up. I led the right side of Lost In The Woods (WI2) and set up a top rope anchor, and Nuno and I climbed a couple of laps. Since the left side was full of snow, we just climbed laps on the center and right sides. Then I led the right side of Drip In The Woods (WI4) and set up a top rope anchor so we could finish up on the steep curtain. Warm, lots of sun and a good day for ice climbing! Thanks, Nuno for your help and support for my "Turning 60 and Climbing About It" project - at this point, a little more than halfway to my 60-pitch climbing goal! 


Nuno on Drip In The Woods


From the top of Lost In The Forest

Lost In The Forest



Tuesday, March 12, 2019

North End Slab, Cathedral Ledge - Ice Climbing





Met up with Brandie to climb at the North End of Cathedral today. We parked at the intersection of Cathedral Ledge and Chapel roads and walked in. We got up to the base of Thresher with the intent for me to lead a quick climb. But with too much fresh snow, I bailed after placing the first piece of pro - so much work clearing the snow in order to look for a good placement. There was a guide and his group of clients at the North End Slab so we headed over. They had just finished up and was climbing at the Pillars. There was a lot of snow on the slab, but I knew there was a trail where the guide and his clients went up so I could follow. I got up about 4 feet past my first piece of pro when I realized that my right crampon had popped off. I'm all about downclimbing but when I placed my crampon-less foot in a pocket it slipped out. I looked over at Brandie and said: "I'm going to fall if I continue to downclimb." So I put in a piece of pro and had Brandie lower me so I could put my crampon back on and continue climbing. So much snow, but it was such a gorgeous day! Afterward, Brandie and I had (Poke) lunch at Delaney's Hole In the Wall. 

Thanks, Brandie for the photos and your help and support for my "Turning 60 and Climbing About It" project! ❤️ 



The top of the slab. Lots of snow and in 
some places, the snow was quite deep.




Looking up the North End Slab


Shaka!!
North End Slab, Cathedral Ledge, NH

Poke Salad Lunch
Poke, sushi, spring rolls, japanese, north conway


YouTube Channel - Hawaii Girl Adventures

Check out my YouTube channel at:  Hawaii Girl Adventures I will eventually be phasing out blog posts and be posting videos of my climbing, h...