South Face C1 5.8

Currently 4.0/5

Washington Column

Yosemite Valley, California USA

Trip Report

Birthday Party on Dinner Ledge

Thursday March 18, 2010 6:50am

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:


	Credit: Buju

Robin:


	Credit: Buju

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:


	Bev and Rick on the approach Credit: Buju


	Robin explains to her mother that jugging isn't so hard Credit: Buju


	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


	The happy parents. Credit: Buju


	The Batha family...what a bunch of badasses! Credit: Buju


	Rick picked it up pretty quick too! Credit: Buju


	Meanwhile, back at the ledge, Andy was hard at work manning the BBQ! Credit: Buju


	When Rick made it up to Dinner Ledge, he was greated with a fresh salmon burger. Credit: Buju


	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


	With everyone on the ledge, the party begins. Credit: Buju


	It is a beautiful march day! Credit: Buju


	Burgers + Beer + Warm Sun = Siesta Credit: Buju


	The boys who set it up! Credit: Buju

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: 3,623

Buju

About the Author
Buju is a trad climber from the range of light.

Comments

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luquitos

Trad climber

santa cruz, ca

Mar 18, 2010 - 07:47am PT

thats awesome. i could never get my mom up there

Rhodo-Router

Gym climber

sawatch choss

Mar 18, 2010 - 08:00am PT

That's funny, I did....

Ha. Thanks buju!

TMJesse

Mountain climber

Olympia, WA

Mar 19, 2010 - 09:28am PT

Outstanding! Those salmon burgers look great.

BrassNuts

Trad climber

Save your a_s, reach for the brass...

Mar 21, 2010 - 08:54am PT

Great stuff! Kudos to the parents for making the scene!!

Mighty Hiker

climber

Vancouver, B.C.

Mar 21, 2010 - 01:29pm PT

Now that's a climbing party!

10b4me

Social climber

Mar 21, 2010 - 02:35pm PT

pretty cool

TerriB

Trad climber

Sacramento, Ca

Mar 22, 2010 - 09:59am 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 - 08:01am 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 - 02:00pm PT

excellent set of photos. what a beautiful looking day. happy happy birthday

finbrain

Mountain climber

Philadelphia, PA

Mar 23, 2010 - 04:19pm 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