She kicked me out (TR w/too many pics)

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cowpoke

climber
Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 5, 2008 - 02:34pm PT
…and sent me to Squamish.

She insisted I go: “You ogle Supertopo every morning, but haven’t been on a climbing trip in a year. Email Jeremy, find out where he is climbing next week, and buy a plane ticket.”

With Jeremy home in Vancouver, I was soon flying over the land of the Kingsburys' lonely dental floss and headed to Squamish for the first time.


After driving to Squamish, we “basecamped” with Jer’s close friends, Kelly and Katy (thanks so much guys! you were wonderfully gracious hosts! can’t wait to hear the paddle-cirque TR)

Now a conspirator in the plan to help me climb away the residual stress from the last year, “What grade do you want to climb, and for how many pitches?” Jeremy asked. Not sure I’ve heard sweeter words than that.

For starters, the answer was the Ultimate Everything Linkup of the Apron and second summit of the Chief. We did the route as 18 pitches, linking 3 different slab climbs up the Apron and then up the UE. Most of the climbing was in the 5.8 to 5.9 range, with a couple harder moves on the last pitch – a perfect introduction to the Chief. The “official” linkup discussed in the guide combines things a bit differently, but climbing around crowds gave us a variant of similar difficulty and 5-star quality.

The rough location of the line we took:


Jeremy – on the 1st and then 2nd pitches – arguing that fingers are superfluous when paddling up slab:



Being a Saturday with beautiful weather, the Chief was busy. One of the many other parties on the Apron that day:


Some views from belays on the Apron.



Jeremy on the short walk to hook up with the 10-pitch Ultimate Everything proper.


Nearly every pitch on the UE ends at a large tree ledge, giving the route a discontinuous, but laid back feel.



View from one of the belays of the queue on Squamish Buttress:


same feature...zoomed out a bit:


And, Jeremy topping out.


After the first day, things got wetter.


Making time for early morning (I was still on Boston time) walks in the rainforest,


Each day, the cliffs dried up late enough to chase away the crowds, but early enough for lots more climbing. The classic finger crack Exasperator was one of the trip highlights for me.

It was a bit moist at the start, but all clear from there. Some folks combine these two pitches, but even with perfect beta (thanks, Jer!) I got my money’s worth breaking it up into two leads.


Frantically slotting a nut on pitch 2:


A rest...


and racing for the handjams above…notice the blur from my lightning-fast speed-climbing technique (inspired by numb fingers).


Jer at the base of another gem, Arrowroot.


And, climbing.


Jer also took me on a tour of Smoke Bluffs. A great collection of cliffs in Kelly’s and Katy’s neighborhood (literally), with dozens of outstanding 1-pitch routes.

A shot that gives you a sense of their neighborhood.


Here is a shot of part of Penny Lane cliff. On the left, is a Peter Croft – Tami Knight masterpiece and on the right is Penny Lane, a super-fun 5.9.


And, Jer on a sweet flake climb (forget the name, sorry!).


Not surprisingly, I came home with this smile still plastered on my face,


and she let me back in the house…for now. Thanks for the splendid time, Jer.
Jaybro

Social climber
The West
Jun 5, 2008 - 02:40pm PT
Yow! I could do with a good booting!
scuffy b

climber
watching the flytrap
Jun 5, 2008 - 02:42pm PT
Lovely.
Just freakin lovely.
Those are some nice looking climbs up there.
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
Jun 5, 2008 - 02:44pm PT
Second-to-last shot is of Quarryman, a 5.8 in the Bluffs.

D
TKingsbury

Trad climber
MT
Jun 5, 2008 - 02:45pm PT
wow, those are some sweet looking climbs!

Getting me laughing over here with the Kingsbury comment...pretty nice view flying over the Big Sky though

Thanks for posting up!

Cheers
cowpoke

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 5, 2008 - 02:47pm PT
Quarryman! That's it! Thanks, Ghost...and the 10+ slab on the left is sweet (and tricky) too. a suprisingly rich concentration of high-quality routes packed into those bluffs, with cute trails taking you everywhere with ease.
handsome B

Gym climber
SL,UT
Jun 5, 2008 - 02:49pm PT
Sweat TR, thanks!
cowpoke

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 5, 2008 - 03:18pm PT
yeehah!! I was hoping I might pull out a story from you with that pic, Tami -- thanks!!! You guys did an amazing job developing the area...it was a dream come true to walk in those woods for few days.
mojede

Trad climber
Butte, America
Jun 5, 2008 - 03:23pm PT
Looks like you had a great time. Squamish is a fun place to go for a get-away--glad to hear that you got away.
TKingsbury

Trad climber
MT
Jun 5, 2008 - 03:37pm PT
I forgot to say that this TR does not have 'too many pics'...

It's great! More pics the better, plus you had alot of ground you needed to show off. Right on!


Awesome story too Tami! Hair raising for sure!
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
Jun 5, 2008 - 03:47pm PT
Cowpoke, very good stuff. My wife is kinda the same way, she knows when I'm jonesin' to climb and insists I go out.

Those routes look kick ass! I gotta get there sometime. Glad you had a good time.
piquaclimber

Trad climber
Durango
Jun 5, 2008 - 04:11pm PT
Very fun!
I need to get up there one of these years.
quartziteflight

climber
Jun 5, 2008 - 04:38pm PT
bad arse!!!
Matt

Trad climber
primordial soup
Jun 5, 2008 - 05:29pm PT
nice!
(watch out for that foot behind the rope stuff)



who wants to have some vegan bbq's up there in september?
divad

Trad climber
wmass
Jun 5, 2008 - 05:34pm PT
Some nice cracks there.
Thanks
Watusi

Social climber
Newport, OR
Jun 5, 2008 - 05:39pm PT
Very Cool!!!
caughtinside

Social climber
Davis, CA
Jun 5, 2008 - 05:59pm PT
Terrific TR! I love the ones where I can feel the stoke, and see it in the faces of the climbers!

thanks for posting!
Zander

Trad climber
Berkeley
Jun 5, 2008 - 07:27pm PT
Great rip report and pics,
Thanks,
Glad you got kicked out onto the rock!
Zander
Ezra

Trad climber
WA, NC
Jun 5, 2008 - 07:50pm PT
Thank you for sharing the
Beautiful rock!
Shaft

Boulder climber
SL,UT
Jun 5, 2008 - 08:34pm PT
Leaving tomorrow to visit Squamish the first time...can't wait. (Despite the fact the car we were going to drive up was stolen last night.)

Good to hear about possibility of late afternoon climbing when it rains - is that typical?

Nice TR....
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