South Face C1 5.8

 
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Washington Column


Yosemite Valley, California USA


Trip Report
Birthday Party on Dinner Ledge

by Buju
Thursday March 18, 2010 9:50am
Sorry to digress from all of the name calling and politics, but last weekend a spectacular event took place in Yosemite Valley. Andy Esparza and Robin Batha both celebrated birthdays.

Andy:
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Credit: Buju
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Robin:
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Credit: Buju
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We decided that the best way to celebrate these wonderful people’s birthdays was to have a BBQ on dinner ledge. The party was attended by none other than Robin’s PARENTS Rick and Beverley. They made the trek all of the way from Davis to be with their daughter on this auspicious day. Little did they know what they were in for…

Beverley has only been climbing for approximately a year, yet has toproped 5.10’s! Rick is a well known Rock Jock who CRUSHES it at Rocknasium gym in Davis. Both have a gung-ho, get-er-done attitude, and, upon hearing this plan, decided they wanted to come along.

Roger and Andy left at 7:00 and hiked up to the Column with, what I can only describe as the most ridiculous haulbag ever. Its contents were:

I-Pod/Speakers
Salmon Burgers
Barbeque
Briquettes
4 ropes
Double rack .4 – 2 “
More beer than water

After much cursing and flailing with the hauling (man…I had never hauled the Column before! It is freakin HARD! No wonder so many new wall climbers get hosed…), we were set up on dinner ledge. We had fized many lines down to the bottom so that everyone could simply approach and jug up. Andy got the barbeque going while I repelled down to help the party’s guests ascend the lines.

I will let the pictures do the talking:
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Bev and Rick on the approach
Bev and Rick on the approach
Credit: Buju
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Robin explains to her mother that jugging isn't so hard
Robin explains to her mother that jugging isn't so hard
Credit: Buju
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Before you know it, with a little instruction from me, Bev is chugging...
Before you know it, with a little instruction from me, Bev is chugging right along. She juggs faster than some wall partners i've had!
Credit: Buju
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The happy parents.
The happy parents.
Credit: Buju
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The Batha family...what a bunch of badasses!
The Batha family...what a bunch of badasses!
Credit: Buju
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Rick picked it up pretty quick too!
Rick picked it up pretty quick too!
Credit: Buju
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Meanwhile, back at the ledge, Andy was hard at work manning the BBQ!
Meanwhile, back at the ledge, Andy was hard at work manning the BBQ!
Credit: Buju
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When Rick made it up to Dinner Ledge, he was greated with a fresh salm...
When Rick made it up to Dinner Ledge, he was greated with a fresh salmon burger.
Credit: Buju
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Bev makes it up! Not only is it her first time jugging, but it is her ...
Bev makes it up! Not only is it her first time jugging, but it is her first multipitch climb since she and Rick courted in the 80's! Mother and daughter high five while boyfriend looks like a dweeb.
Credit: Buju
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With everyone on the ledge, the party begins.
With everyone on the ledge, the party begins.
Credit: Buju
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It is a beautiful march day!
It is a beautiful march day!
Credit: Buju
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Burgers + Beer + Warm Sun = Siesta
Burgers + Beer + Warm Sun = Siesta
Credit: Buju
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The boys who set it up!
The boys who set it up!
Credit: Buju
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Overall, it was a great time with good food, good folks, and a little bit of good climbing.

Happy Birthday Andy and Robin! You guys both rock!

  Trip Report Views: 7,875
Buju
About the Author
Buju is a trad climber from the range of light.

Comments
luquitos

Trad climber
  Mar 18, 2010 - 10:47am PT
thats awesome. i could never get my mom up there
Rhodo-Router

Gym climber
sawatch choss
  Mar 18, 2010 - 11:00am PT
That's funny, I did....




Ha. Thanks buju!
Risk

Mountain climber
Marooned, 855 miles from Tuolumne Meadows
  Mar 19, 2010 - 12:28pm PT
Outstanding! Those salmon burgers look great.
BrassNuts

Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
  Mar 21, 2010 - 11:54am PT
Great stuff! Kudos to the parents for making the scene!!
Mighty Hiker

climber
Outside the Asylum
  Mar 21, 2010 - 04:29pm PT
Now that's a climbing party!
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Mar 21, 2010 - 05:35pm PT
pretty cool
TerriB

Trad climber
Sacramento, Ca
  Mar 22, 2010 - 12:59pm PT
I met your parents at the Pipeworks comp on Friday. They are great people. Your Dad told us about this climb so it was fun to see the pictures!
kdriese

Social climber
Laramie, WY
  Mar 23, 2010 - 11:01am PT
I celebrated a birthday on Dinner Ledge many years ago (mid-80s?) with a bunch of friends. A ringtail cat came and shared some of the cake with us--no kidding. Ken Driese
eagle

Trad climber
new paltz, ny
  Mar 23, 2010 - 05:00pm PT
excellent set of photos. what a beautiful looking day. happy happy birthday
finbrain

Mountain climber
Philadelphia, PA
  Mar 23, 2010 - 07:19pm PT
GREAT PLACE TO PARTY! I REMEMBER CLIMBING UP TO THE 'DINNER LEDGE' IN 1974 WHEN I FIRST CAME OUT TO CALIFORNIA. I PICKED UP A LONG BEARDED PARTNER (FORGOT HIS NAME) AT CAMP 4 AND WE DID THE CLIMB. WHAT A LEDGE TO CHILL OUT ON. ONE COULD ACTUALLY LIVE UP THERE AS LONG AS ONE IS WILLING TO REGULARLY CARRY OUT YOUR OWN TRASH AND SH..T. THIS STORY WAS GREAT AND IT REHABILITATED MY DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR IN THE FUTURE.

MICHAEL FINLEY
Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
  Mar 23, 2010 - 07:47pm PT
Fin, Dude, Hit the Caps Lock >Off<
Miss ya Bra ;-)
rodermck

Social climber
san jose ca.
  Mar 24, 2010 - 01:24am PT
loved the pictures and parents sharing this fun birthday party and those yummy salmon burgers i want one
Lissiehoya

climber
Saint Louis, MO
  Mar 24, 2010 - 09:58am PT
What a fun idea!
Roxy

Trad climber
CA Central Coast
  Mar 24, 2010 - 11:06am PT
What an unforgettable birthday...tip of the helmet to the parents for making it up there. Great TR!
Paulina

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
  May 2, 2010 - 09:22am PT
Looks like a pretty unforgettable birthday. Extreme respect to the parents.
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Washington Column - South Face C1 5.8 - Yosemite Valley, California USA. Click to Enlarge
The South Face of Washington Column.
Photo: Chris McNamara
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Astroman takes a brilliant steep and clean line.
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The steepest route on the Column.
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