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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 20, 2008 - 01:12pm PT
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… A short trip report on some happenings during the "Age of the Batholith"
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 01:13pm PT
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A 3’ x 6’ proclamation adorning a bar front in Missoula sets the tone:
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 01:13pm PT
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My first-order business was to seek consultation with Boulder's premier naturopath physician… who happens to practice in Montana.
So I flew to Missoula and expected to rent a real Montana truck (for max poseur factor);
You know, something big, man-sized, maybe with four wheels on the rear axle and great big mud flaps.
But the nice lady at that Hertz desk saw I was from Boulder so she instead fit me out with this Prius:
(oh well…)
Turns out the doc I was going to see lives at the mouth of Blodgett Canyon.
I had wanted to check this place out since John Harlan III included it in his comprehensive guides.
And I had just two hours to conduct a recon…
So this is the first person I met in Montana after I left the airport, on the way into Blodgett:
Then I met these guys:
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 01:14pm PT
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On the trail into Blodgett sits this commemoration to a smoke jumper who died working a big blaze outside of Glenwood Springs Colorado:
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 01:14pm PT
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Blodget really has the stuff.
A half-dozen granite towers, each laced with multi-pitch 5.10 crack climbs.
This is the first pair that comes into view,
From the East after less than a mile of walking:
And the same group from the West:
And some independent views of these initial towers:
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 01:15pm PT
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The premier group in Blodgett Canyon is the trio of Flathead, Shoshone, and Nez Perce:
Flathead:
Shoshone:
Nez Perce:
Sadly, or not so depending on your viewpoint… I had to beat it out of there and get to my appointment.
But with just a little bit of hiking on a low angle trail I was able to scope some super cool Montana stone!!!
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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Jun 20, 2008 - 01:20pm PT
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More!
Prod.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 01:29pm PT
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That's all I have on Blodgett Prod.
As I stood there on the trail gawking at Flathead, Shoshone, and Nez Perce at 2:30 in the afternoon (prior to my four o'clock appointment),
Two wiry guys with lean climbing packs came bounding up the trail behind me:
They asked me if it was the first time I'd seen it, then without missing a beat...
'Dudes grinned and set off down to the creek crossing and bounded up the talus toward Shoshone for an afternoon ascent.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Jun 20, 2008 - 01:34pm PT
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Wonderful stuff, Tar.
Welcome home--I hope there are more pics from
the batholith yet. . .
:-)
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MisterE
Social climber
My Inner Nut
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Jun 20, 2008 - 01:34pm PT
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Beautiful pictures, Tar! Looks like stellar conditions!
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Landgolier
climber
the flatness
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Jun 20, 2008 - 01:45pm PT
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Blodgett is awesome and the campsite is great, but it's adventure climbing out there. Some of the worst bushwhacking I've ever been a party to was getting to the base of and off of routes in that area. Still great stuff, but ho man, the climbs were only about half the battle.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 01:45pm PT
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Gotta give big credit to this fellow, Kevin Hutchinson aka Mojede.
He's put a lot into this gathering (still is as we speak) and he graciously picked me up at the airport so I could save my arms from the driving duties.
There's lots of boulders to hang on to in them hills!!!
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 01:48pm PT
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Alas, Landgolier is correct in his assessment of Blodgett.
Those approaches (and descents) look horrendous, folks best stay away...
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 01:53pm PT
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And yes Clint,
Poor looking rock too.
I ain't never goin' back...
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 02:03pm PT
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So much for that risqué alpine granite.
On to the site of the party, bouldering, cragging.
Pat and Tom Kingsbury, and Dominic:
Big Thanks to These Guys for Hosting!!!
Liz in the blue, and friend:
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 02:10pm PT
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Mojede, with protégés Ladd and Lyddie:
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 02:17pm PT
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Here's Mark:
And here's Mark on rock, June 14 2008, just a couple of days after a big snowstorm:
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 20, 2008 - 02:20pm PT
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Tarbuster, Balm in Gilead....to the eyes and the soul. lynne
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2008 - 02:29pm PT
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Hi Lynne!
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