ROCK + ICE CLIMBING STATS for 2007 season

With the rock season basically over night time lows in the 20's and the ICE season a few weeks away - At least for me. I decided to add up my climbing days for this year.

I got in 22 - Rock trips ( nice mix of trips and some local one day stuff on the weekends). I don't count the Wed night local climbs in this number.

Total days rock climbing 2007 including the Wed night climbs = 85 days ( Nice year).

Total days Ice climbing 2006-7 season including the Wed night climbs = 17 days ( last year had a late start first Ice climb 1/13/07. Some winters I start Ice climbing as early as the first week of Nov.

I started my 2007/08 training program for ICE climbing last night. I need to create an Excell Chart and get religious.

Seneca Rocks West Virgina - Tyler + Steve 11/23 + 11/24

Tyler & I are leaving to WV in the Am for two days of climbing if it's not to cold - Forecast is for low 40's. Hope the white rock reflectiong the sun will make it warmer.

Report in two days..

OK - This is Seneca Rocks from the parking lot.

This is me looking down on the town and the parking lot where the previous picture was taken from.

Picture is taken fron North Summit ( Right sideof cliff). Left botton of picture is the National Park Visitor center parking lot. Note Eurovan in on right side of the lot

Rock Climbing in Virginia @ the Trestles 11/21/07

The Day before Turkey day Tyler my nephew & I did some climbing in Goode VA at some old abandoned RR bridge trestles. What is so cool about this place besides the climbing is the HISTORY read here:

http://www.lynchburgclimbingclub.com/trestles.htm

http://www.lynchburgclimbingclub.com/pics/trestles_rev5.pdf

We started the day on Peir A with some Top Rope routes around 5.5 - 5.8. This Trestle has Gym Type Holds bolted to the 150+ year old structure. You can also get your fingers between some of the bricks to help you get up. It was steep and finger burning on a few of the routes. This place was set up quite a few years ago so some holds were broken or spinning making upward progress difficult . But wee had fun !!!

Next we did some sport routes Reason for living 5.9 was the first route. It was sunny and warm and bees were swarming all over the place. These trestles are very steep with most of the holds where the 150 year old cement has eroded away.

The second route I lead was Ledges from Heaven 5.9 also Sport as all but one of the routes are on the 2 big trestles. There is one Trad route 5.10 that said pro was marginal, It looked OK to me but I did not climb it.

Gary Cycle Cross Race - Cheshire Ct. 11/17/07

Gunks Rock Climbing Trip #20 - day trip 11/11/07

Yesterday was another day @ the GUNKS . Won't be many more as winter is fast approaching and it's cold in the AM with frozen mud on the approach carriage road. The sun did a good job of warming things up but around 2:00 when it went away it got real cold. Hope to be ICE climbing around this time next month.

So early winter rock climbing - No SUN stay home I say............

GARY - if your reading this bring warm clothes back east this week for your Cyclocross race Sat it will be cold for sure if you want I will bring the gas Guzzeling Eurovan so I can pop the top and turn on HEAT for before + after race comfort. Guess I better get some food also . Who else is going ???

Anyhow back to climbing - Had a great day climbing with Jonathan we did 7 pitches I lead two Jonathan did the rest.

We started with BABY 5.6 JDW did P#1 + I did P#2, next we moved to Arrow 5.8 JDW did P#1 and I got the $$$ pitch#2, them JDW did P#2 of Limelight + P#2 of Three Doves 5.9 ( fantastic route) , we rapped off ate lunch around 3:00 and did one more Route -- Absurdland 5.8+ / 5.9 JDW lead it in fine style . It was hard for a final climb of the day+ the rock was cold as were my feet !!

I'm working to get my back to normal after tweaking it out WED AM and suffering BAD all last week. It's still not right !!

I think I will attempt the Tue night group Mtn bike ride and see how I feel as I hope to be able to do the Friday afternoon CASE Mtn bike ride with Gary + Cliff .