Thursday, February 12th, 2015 – Climbing @Movement

Another pretty chill session. 

Friday, February 13th, 2015 – Green Mountain

I was still feeling pretty tired in the legs – they didn’t really want to turn over, but I needed to grab some gear I had inadvertently left on the trail, on Sunday. So, after work, I decided to take a nice, slow hike up, in hopes that that would help with recovering from the pounding on Sunday. It was a beautiful night, and I enjoyed taking it easy and poking my head on the little use paths around Gregory Canyon. Happily I found my gear stash – no one took it, and I didn’t hide it so well to fool even myself. 

Took on Freeway on the Second as a warmup, and then moved on to Bakers Way, topping out on the First via the Awkward Slot to the N. Arete. Once finished, I jogged down to the start of the First, but it was kind of crazy, with multiple roped parties sharing belay ledges that I opted for the First Flatironette, to the Spy and back to the N. Arete. I started out maybe 50′ from the end of The Spy, so lower than the usual start for the N. Arete, making things a little spicey to start things off. Took the Awkward Slot var. again which had a party on it (every other variation also had a party on it!) and topped off the First, downclimbing once again. I did a quick lap of Green Mountain and down again, back to the Second to check out the Dodge Block route. Amazingly that route also had a party on it – this is unheard of in February. They were on the 5.6 headwall pitch, and offered me to pass through, but I decided to dodge both the block (Pullman Car) and them, but going between on an extremely awkward alternative line (complete with piton sighting). This took me to the base of the tunnel arch, which I naturally wanted to go through, rather than pass by. A great choice. Finished off with a quick trip up the West Face of the Second to watch the parties on the First one last time.  

Since I neglected to bring any food today, I had to pack it in, and get ready to play a wedding later that night, funnily enough. Tons of fun, and I hope to repeat much of it the next day. 

Sunday, February 15th, 2015 – Flagstaff, Green, Bear, South Boulder (Strava)

 I woke up a bit later than I wanted, and the weather report forecasted… snow! The sky outside my window looked beautiful, but I made the decision to pass on the climbing today, lest I get stuck in the middle of the First Flatiron, as the snow started to fly. Sigh. 

Decided to summit Flagstaff, then drop all the way down Gregory Canyon to the TH, and then go back up Green Mountain. Passed Scott, while doing so. Good running effort up Flagstaff. Took Amphitheater to Saddle Rock, keeping the running up, which I did, until the ladder, where the ice started to be found on trail. Good effort. Ran into Tony at the top of Green and chatted a bit. Man, you can feel the energy of his excitement, when he talks about his outings. Unlike me, he did in fact get up early to do some scrambling while also summiting Longs Peak not too long ago, reporting pretty thin conditions when it comes to the snow.