Thursday, October 27, 2011
Kentucky Pt. 2 - Hiking, climbing, and more climbing.
Once again it's cold and rainy outside so I'm taking a break from the amazing sandstone here in Kentucky and thought I would update my blog with the latest photos. Weather has been... for Kentucky... Awesome! With only a few rainy days but mostly sunshine, good temps, and not too terrible humidity. The fall colors are in full swing and the climbing is absolutely amazing! I can't believe my trip isn't even halfway over yet! I get to spend two more weeks climbing so many more classic routes. Stoked!
Mike working in between climbing at home sweet cabin.
The view from our backyard deck... not too bad.
Dianne on an amazing 5.11a - Whip Stocking.
The Madness Cave at the Motherload... One of the steepest sustained walls in the US,
Mike Personick on Omaha Beach, 5.14a
Mike on Omaha again... can you find him? Gives you a little perspective on how huge this wall actually is (wish it could show how overhung it is as well,) especially when this photo doesn't show the entire route!
Dan pulling on tiny holds on I think Jedi Mind Trick - 5.13b
Dan nearing the top showing a good view of the Dark Side crag.
After climbing we actually had good weather on one rest day so I went hiking and took photos of some of the arches in the Red River Gorge... With the leaves changing and perfect fall weather, life couldn't have been much better.
There was some crazy stuff growing on some of the dead tree trunks.
And this tree looked like it came straight out of The Hobbit.
The arches I hiked to were pretty impressive, I'm looking forward to seeing more of them.
There were a lot of big time views as well.
After a great rest day it was back to climbing... Here is Dan trying to figure out the crux on Transworld Depravity - 5.14a
Mike giving Omaha Beach another go.
Dan almost sending Last of the Bohicans - 5.13d
Resting high up on Last of the Bohicans.
Ingrid on Forty Ounces to Justice - 5.13a
Dan giving Last of the Bohicans one last go as the sun starts to set.
Mike on Ultra Perm - 5.13d. I wish I could somehow take a photo that shows how insanely steep/overhung this route is... Awesome!
Laura sending the classic 5.11d, Seek the Truth.
Followed by ALMOST sending another classic, Bare Metal Teen - 5.12a
Mike working in between climbing at home sweet cabin.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
The view from our backyard deck... not too bad.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Dianne on an amazing 5.11a - Whip Stocking.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
The Madness Cave at the Motherload... One of the steepest sustained walls in the US,
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Mike Personick on Omaha Beach, 5.14a
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Mike on Omaha again... can you find him? Gives you a little perspective on how huge this wall actually is (wish it could show how overhung it is as well,) especially when this photo doesn't show the entire route!
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Dan pulling on tiny holds on I think Jedi Mind Trick - 5.13b
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Dan nearing the top showing a good view of the Dark Side crag.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
After climbing we actually had good weather on one rest day so I went hiking and took photos of some of the arches in the Red River Gorge... With the leaves changing and perfect fall weather, life couldn't have been much better.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
There was some crazy stuff growing on some of the dead tree trunks.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
And this tree looked like it came straight out of The Hobbit.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
The arches I hiked to were pretty impressive, I'm looking forward to seeing more of them.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
There were a lot of big time views as well.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
After a great rest day it was back to climbing... Here is Dan trying to figure out the crux on Transworld Depravity - 5.14a
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Mike giving Omaha Beach another go.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Dan almost sending Last of the Bohicans - 5.13d
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Resting high up on Last of the Bohicans.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Ingrid on Forty Ounces to Justice - 5.13a
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Dan giving Last of the Bohicans one last go as the sun starts to set.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Mike on Ultra Perm - 5.13d. I wish I could somehow take a photo that shows how insanely steep/overhung this route is... Awesome!
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Laura sending the classic 5.11d, Seek the Truth.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Followed by ALMOST sending another classic, Bare Metal Teen - 5.12a
 |
| From Kentucky Pt. 2 |
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Kentucky Pt. 1 - The long drive, and a little bit of climbing.
I'm sitting on my bed in our cabins loft looking out the window as large rain drops drench the ground all around us. Cold rainy days are good because they force me to take rest days from climbing and get me to update my blog with what photos I've taken so far so I don't have a monumental task of going through hundreds of them at the end of my trip. I'm living in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky for the next month, climbing and chilling out. Here are a few of my photos from the drive out and a couple days of climbing. Enjoy:
First I stopped at Maroon Bells near Aspen Colorado. A few clouds in the sky would have made the photo even better, but at least I was able to get a good reflection.
Then I stopped at Mammoth Cave and was herded like a group of cattle along foot paths with safety railings and electric lights...
Be sure to hold on to the railing so you don't slip!
A really cool room... with a giant metal staircase in the middle of it.
It was really hard to take photos with such little light.
The cave was mostly a bunch of long corridors with a big flat roof on top. Not many cool cave features but there was one spot, called "Frozen Niagra," where a bunch of cool features were piled up in about a 300 foot long section.
After the cave we settled into our cabin, checked out some of the Kentucky countryside,
and then went climbing! Here is Ingrid on Magnum Opus 5.12a
Me on the ridiculously fun line, Super Best Friends 5.12b
Ingrid on Magnum Opus
Dan on Bundle of Joy - 5.13a
Dan pulling hard on little holds
Ingrid sending Magnum Opus - 5.12a
Ingrid chilling in the amazing Hueco on Magnum Opus.
First I stopped at Maroon Bells near Aspen Colorado. A few clouds in the sky would have made the photo even better, but at least I was able to get a good reflection.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
Then I stopped at Mammoth Cave and was herded like a group of cattle along foot paths with safety railings and electric lights...
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
Be sure to hold on to the railing so you don't slip!
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
A really cool room... with a giant metal staircase in the middle of it.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
It was really hard to take photos with such little light.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
The cave was mostly a bunch of long corridors with a big flat roof on top. Not many cool cave features but there was one spot, called "Frozen Niagra," where a bunch of cool features were piled up in about a 300 foot long section.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
After the cave we settled into our cabin, checked out some of the Kentucky countryside,
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
and then went climbing! Here is Ingrid on Magnum Opus 5.12a
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
Me on the ridiculously fun line, Super Best Friends 5.12b
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
Ingrid on Magnum Opus
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
Dan on Bundle of Joy - 5.13a
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
Dan pulling hard on little holds
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
Ingrid sending Magnum Opus - 5.12a
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
Ingrid chilling in the amazing Hueco on Magnum Opus.
 |
| From Kentucky Pt 1 |
