Cold Winter Dayz

Aaron on Ricans and White-Boys - V7

The Gunks, sometimes it can be a winter sanctuary, the sun-shining, open air and exposed rock of the wonderfully warm Carraige Path. Other times it can be a harsh, windy ice box of death and sadness and frozen extremities. The past few visits it has been the latter...

BUT DESPITE the cold weather we've been having lately, the psych level has not gone down and the crew has been hittin' up old projects on the road for quite some time now. A week ago Tyler (the new blog photog), Ryan (From Night Bouldering at Nine) and I hit up the road on the promising looking sunny Sunday.

Ryan thrutching on a V2 dyno

Although it was cold, the sun helped tremendously, and the wind factor was minimal. Once again, as usual, we stopped at Black Boulder after I stated we "would not stop at black boulder" several times on the ride down. Fortunately our visit paid off, on my second go I stuck the personal crux sloper and fell on the top out. A few goes later I was on top of the boulder screaming "I AM THE MASTER OF MY OWN DESTINY!!!" (Points if you can tell me what thats from).

Finally.

Ryan throwing the key heel on Andrew's Boulder Problem - V4

Shortly after we were at the next set of projects. Tyler's long standing nemesis The Buddha - V7 had rendered him injured on his last visit and has been a personal battle ever since. Today, after developing new beta followed by new new newer beta, Tyler found himself at a highpoint. Effort increased, screaming commenced (on his part and ours) and a group of terrified walkers began to speed up their stride as they walked past the screaming man halfway up the boulder.

It was epic

JP on Boxcar Traverse - V4

Next it was on to the Following cave, a spot Tyler hadn't seen yet. He was psyched on the awesome looking wall, and after a few quick goes we decided it would have to wait for another day.

We worked some other stuff, but were way too tired and cold, so we called it a day. A good day though.

DAY 2

Yesterday, Tyler, Aaron, Spook, Ben, Kyle and I headed to the road again.

It was cold.
Really cold.
And windy.
:[

We started our day at boxcar, Spook has put a couple days on this ultra-classic V8 arete, and thought today was the send. After falling from the sloper numerous times, and reaching a new highpoint just inches from the lip, he walked away without a send. Next time.

Ben and Aaron went up to Venus and had surprisingly good work on the testy V11. SICK.


The rest of us went to the Following, a developing nemesis of mind with a last move sticking point that I have yet to overcome. I have the entire problem on the lock down, but the move to the pebbly gaston ledge keeps shutting me down! Kyle came up with some cool beta that skips the crimpy pinch in the middle of the problem, but was also unable to send.

GRRRAAGRGAHSREARFASKS I hate bouldering.

Aaron setting up on Andrew's Roof - V9

We finished up the day at Andrew's Roof. Where Aaron gave goes at the scary Andrew's Roof - V9, which features and insane looking reach back with the left hand, pushing your whole body onto the huge roof. From there you sag out and catch an okay left hand ledge over the lip, and control a ridiculous swing and try not to fall off the carraige path. Cool.

Aaron stretching on Andrews Roof - V9


PHOTOS BY: Tyler Hogan

Every day is a little closer to Spring.
A little closer.

-WB