Well being relatively new here and just in the past month started climbing again
after a 30 year hiatus, I thought I would post my first trip report and share it with those of you that have encouraged me to start climbing again and the rest of the Taco community.

This may set a ST record for the shortest climb given a trip report but it was
monumental for me and my family so here goes.

Backstory:
35 years ago while attending Lassen C.C. in Susanville, Ca., Joe Fitschen pointed me in the direction of a granite crag on a ridge to the south of Thompson Peak. Joe had not climbed there or even been there but told me he had seen it from the Janesville Grade Road and that I might want to check the place out for climbing possibilities. A couple buddies that wanted to start climbing and I went and checked the place out. We found a gem of a crag, like
a mini Lovers leap with dike systems and good granite. Better yet, it looked
virgin and previously un-climbed. My buddies bought rock shoes and one purchased another rope to supplement my rope and gear. Over the period of 2 years 77/78 I/we put up many routes, Some I could lead with my trad rack (5.6-5.8's) and others we top roped (5.9-5.10's) because I didn't have a bolt kit or the time to develope them. We called the place Cannabis Crags back in the day, Ho man it was the 70's right, today it's known as Toms Thumb. I/we left the area when college there was done in the summer of 78. My active climbing years ran between 72 and 82 so I hadn't climbed in 30 years,
yesterday the hiatus came to an end.

Some old pics of the place from BITD

So yesterday I returned to the place with my Wife, Daughter and her significant other Mitch who had expressed an interest in learning to climb and recently bought shoes, harness and belay device.
After making the 2.5 hour drive from Redding, Mitch and I took a walk around the
place as I shared stories and routes from BITD and decided to do one of the easier lines a 5.6 that I felt I could still lead and be a good one for Mitch's
first climb. The place has seen alot of development since I was there 35 years ago with many routes now bolted and chained belay/rap stations. I will let the many photos (thanks to my wonderful Wife and Daughter) and captions tell the rest of the story.

Toms Thumb, Thumbelina 5.6 10/19/2012


Hope you enjoyed the show,
Tad