One Crazy Summer

The Grand Teton, limestone sport climbing, granite boulders, 1000′ sport climb and basalt cragging…and that’s just the last 11 days! Time to get some work done, hang with friends here in Boise and then back to Colorado on Sunday.

Yesterday I got to check out the Memorial Route on Slick Rock, a 1000′ sport climb that goes at 5.8+ (felt harder to me but I am sucky at slabs). Very worthy route, if Slick Rock were in Colorado these climbs would always have people on them. In Idaho, there are so few climbers that the approach trail is heavily overgrown in places. We couldn’t have asked for a finer day, and fully enjoyed the cool breeze and beautiful views of the rocky Lick Creek range. The climbing was fun, though my toes were hurting by the end of the day from so much slab-tacular-ness. I paused in the creek crossing getting back to the car, letting the cold water sooth my aching feets. Before heading back to Boise we enjoyed some tasty pizza in McCall and views of the lake on the north end of town.

This morning we had a little early morning session at the Black Cliffs. This columnar basalt area sits 5 minutes from my friend Jeff’s house, and offers hundreds of routes. We knocked out a bunch of fun moderates before the shade was gone and it was time to head back into town for a shower and work.

It’s been fun to be living and working on the road, but I’ve been gone for two weeks and I’m jonesing to get back to Colorado and see what fun can be had on the local choss. I’m thinking Hagerman is going to be a good spot to escape the heat, and maybe even put up a route or two…