A Short trip to a new Idaho Sport-climbing spot: Cedar Creek

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Messages 1 - 22 of total 22 in this topic

Fritz

Trad climber

Choss Creek, ID

Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 9, 2013 - 10:20pm PT

After postponing our 4th of July trip until July 6, due to weather forecasts of biblical deluges, killer lightning, small hail, and pestilence: we agreed to meet friends at Cedar Creek, just south of the Mt. Borah parking lot, at a very civilized 1:00 PM.

Three friends from the Wood River Valley met us there, and equipped with Sport-climbing gear, we enjoyed a mostly pleasant hike up Cedar Creek. A large storm just to our north kept us cool, with cloud cover & a good breeze that helped to keep horseflies away. The storm also provided a pleasant background of occasional distant thunder. (We did notice vehicles fleeing the Borah parking lot when we started our hike around 2:00 PM.

When we got to the climbing area, which starts very-close to the creek, some other Wood River Valley climbers were already climbing, and lines of shiny new bolts were quite obvious. The hike took us about an hour & ten minutes of constant, but not hard-paced hiking, with a gain of about 1,000 vertical feet.

Since none of us had been to the area before: Kim & Pete scouted the routes, most of which start off a higher ledge. Kim had purchased Dave Bingham’s new “Idaho Underground” guide and had it along for reference. They also chatted up the other climbers, while I watched for our slower hikers.

After we all were all together, a retreat to arrive back at the cars by cocktail hour was earnestly proposed, but Kim wasn't buying it. She strolled up the easiest route and left a top rope for Heidi & me, while she & Pete went off to the higher and harder zone.

Heidi & I had a good time on the 5.7-5.8 route. She had never climbed on limestone and it had been many years for me. The rock was excellent and very-grippy. Kim & Pete were just home from a week on the limestone routes near Lander, Wy, so they were right at home, even though every area is different.

Fritz

Trad climber

Choss Creek, ID

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 10, 2013 - 12:21am PT

We got back to the cars at about 5:30 and found a decent camp-spot nearby. Kim & Pete strolled in at about 8:00 PM after doing four short 5.11 routes.

OH! We did get a very-good shot of this Bitterroot in our camp.

Kim & Pete were off to The Fins on Sunday for a 5.12 route that is on Kim’s “I want” list. We enjoyed a slow trip home, with frequent stops for photo opportunities.

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

Nothing creative to say

Jul 10, 2013 - 01:51am PT

a bitterroot is a flower!!!!

I get it now. sorry, I'm a little slow.

nice pics and tr Fritz. Send that rig!

ß Î Ø T Ç H

climber

Jul 10, 2013 - 01:55am PT

Fritz on the easy route.

Look how tight that (friendly belay) toprope - almost ready to snap L@L.

Fritz

Trad climber

Choss Creek, ID

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 10, 2013 - 11:17am PT

Biotech: Heidi likes to keep me on a "tight-and-short-rope."

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Jul 10, 2013 - 11:33am PT

Sport climbing and hula hoops? When are you people gonna start acting yer age? :-)

Brandon-

climber

The Granite State.

Jul 10, 2013 - 11:53am PT

An hour and ten minutes hike for some bolt clipping?

You folks in Idaho are a different breed!

phylp

Trad climber

Millbrae, CA

Jul 10, 2013 - 12:40pm PT

Yes, Fritz, we will still love you when you're 64, especially if you keep posting good climbing content!

That weather looked really ominous! Fantastic that you got both a great hike and some new climbing in.

Kalimon

Social climber

Ridgway, CO

Jul 10, 2013 - 12:46pm PT

Fritz,

Thanks for your TR's. Just a little technique reminder . . . stick your butt out on those slabs to get the weight over your feet, you don't want to lean into the rock as it will reduce your ability to stick to the features.

guyman

Social climber

Moorpark, CA.

Jul 10, 2013 - 03:50pm PT

An hour and ten minutes hike for some bolt clipping?

Pretty standard in California.

Fritz... nice TR thanks.

Spider Savage

Mountain climber

The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles

Jul 13, 2013 - 11:06pm PT

Fritz

Trad climber

Choss Creek, ID

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 14, 2013 - 10:30am PT

Spider: Is that photo from the Mt. Borah roadhead? The climbing crags are close to the creek and farther up-canyon. The terrain is much more spectacular.

I hope you have a good workout climbing Borah today!

Here's a photo of its more scenic side from yesterday.

Brian in SLC

Social climber

Salt Lake City, UT

Jul 14, 2013 - 12:48pm PT

North Face of Borah is a classic!

mike m

Trad climber

black hills

Jul 14, 2013 - 01:09pm PT

What kind of rock?

Ezra Ellis

Trad climber

WA, & NC & Idaho

Jul 14, 2013 - 01:23pm PT

Nice Fritz, way to get out there,

That limestone stuff is sharp!!!!!

Fritz

Trad climber

Choss Creek, ID

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 14, 2013 - 01:53pm PT

Mike M! Borah is all limestone. Quality varies widely.

Fritz

Trad climber

Choss Creek, ID

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 14, 2013 - 03:10pm PT

Locker! Thanks for the song. I'm bearing up to the burden of soon being 64 ----------fairly well.

Here's a photo of some demanding rock on our ranchette.

and a self-portrait of me attempting a dangerous free-solo of a "stiff-for-its-rating" 4.5b.

Hopefully my form looks ok;)

mucci

Trad climber

The pitch of Bagalaar above you

Jul 14, 2013 - 06:07pm PT

.45 cal.

Nice.

Fritz

Trad climber

Choss Creek, ID

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 14, 2013 - 07:07pm PT

Dingus! But wait! It's the other way around. I aspire to be the Dingus M. of Idaho.

There's so many legends, I'll settle for being "a rumour."

Heidi & Fritz beating the heat in Choss Creek.