Trip Report
Whirlwind trip to Bend and Smith Rock
Saturday June 21, 2014 9:55pm
A couple of my friends were moving from Oregon to California, so my wife and I met them for the drive down to spend some time in Oregon's High Desert.

But first we went to Vancouver, BC for our anniversary.

The weather was not super conducive to climbing.
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Credit: looks easy from here
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So we spent the day at Stanley Park and the aquarium.
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Credit: looks easy from here
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standard l.e.f.h. buffoonery
standard l.e.f.h. buffoonery
Credit: looks easy from here
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A couple days later we took a puddle-jumper to Portland, met our friends, and headed off to Bend.
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Welcome to Oregon in June
Welcome to Oregon in June
Credit: looks easy from here
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The weather was still a bit spotty the next day, so we checked out some of the sights around Bend.

First the High Desert Museum, which we caught just in time for its raptor show.
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Credit: looks easy from here
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You woke me up for THIS?!
You woke me up for THIS?!
Credit: looks easy from here
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Marahute!
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Aaand the buffoonery continues.
Aaand the buffoonery continues.
Credit: looks easy from here
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Then to the lava tubes.
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Credit: looks easy from here
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Credit: looks easy from here
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But the next couple days were forecast to be all sunny!

Smith Rock from the approach to The Marsupials. Broken Top and The Three Sisters in the background.
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Credit: looks easy from here
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Arriving at Koala Rock.
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Credit: looks easy from here
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First line of the trip!
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Round Here, Koala Rock, Smith Rock S.P.
Round Here, Koala Rock, Smith Rock S.P.
Credit: looks easy from here
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Like being in the gym. ;)
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Though the scenery's a bit better here...
Though the scenery's a bit better here...
Credit: looks easy from here
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Sick brah!
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Credit: looks easy from here
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Advantages of being a small climber: my off-width is Mrs. l.e.f.h.'s flared chimney.
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Crazies, Koala Rock, Smith Rock S.P.
Crazies, Koala Rock, Smith Rock S.P.
Credit: looks easy from here
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Back to town.
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Credit: looks easy from here
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Forecast for day 2 at Smith Rock is high 80's, but it's going to take more than that to keep us away!

Disadvantage of being a small climber: I remember that cross being quite a bit less of a stretch.
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Dancer, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Dancer, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Credit: looks easy from here
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Crankin'!
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Dancer, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Dancer, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Credit: looks easy from here
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Only gripe of the trip came when I tried to run up the left crack in this chimney to access a toprope anchor above it and found everything to my right literally dripping with rat piss. Fortunately I got to share my misery with my cleaner.
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Bowling Alley, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Bowling Alley, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Credit: looks easy from here
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Taking a moment to enjoy the view.
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Jete, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Jete, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Credit: looks easy from here
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Yours truly on my favorite climb of the trip. Would love to see some fixed pro on it to take away its X rating.
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Tinker Toys, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Tinker Toys, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Credit: looks easy from here
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So damn good it deserves another picture.
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Tinker Toys, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Tinker Toys, The Christian Brothers, Smith Rock S.P.
Credit: looks easy from here
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Nutria building a nest. Cool critter count for the trip included them, river otters, an osprey, and, on the drive home, a bald eagle!
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Credit: looks easy from here
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We'll be back!
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Credit: looks easy from here
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  Trip Report Views: 1,657
looks easy from here
About the Author
looks easy from here is a climber from Ben Lomond, CA.

Comments
Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
  Jun 21, 2014 - 10:51pm PT

Smith Rock is a cool place. It has, or at least used to have nice camping and solar heated showers. As your photos indicate, there are cracks there.

Thanks for climbing photos.
RyanD

climber
  Jun 21, 2014 - 11:14pm PT
The weather looked fine in Vancouver, you should see what happens when it really rains.

Another fun TR cheers, looks like a great anniversary, congrats!!!

neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Jun 21, 2014 - 11:28pm PT
hey there say, ...

looks easy from here, thanks for sharing this wonderful trip, the photos are really wonderful! so happy! thanks for sharing... :)
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Jun 22, 2014 - 11:25am PT
A beautiful place!!!
le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
  Jun 24, 2014 - 10:58am PT
Very nice, very nice!
looks easy from here

climber
Santa Cruzish
Author's Reply  Jun 27, 2014 - 11:44am PT
Thanks everyone.

Smith Rock is a cool place. It has, or at least used to have nice camping and solar heated showers. As your photos indicate, there are cracks there.

We had a dog with us that we didn't want to leave alone outside for hours on end, so we ended up getting a room in Bend. Shout-out to CHOW, The Brown Owl and Addy Mac's Ice Cream for amazing breakfast, dinner and dessert, respectively. I know Smith is famous for its bolts, but I was glad I brought my trad rack. Tally for the weekend was pretty even: 2 trad leads, 2 sport leads, 2 top ropes.

The weather looked fine in Vancouver, you should see what happens when it really rains.

Yikes! Guess we shoulda taken advantage and hitched a ride up to Squamish after all. ;)

I added some descriptors to the pics that I didn't get to while originally posting them.
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