Snow Sloggin' and Sandbaggin'

Last week I was out in the Cascades climbing Mt. Rainier with Marty Molitoris from Alpine Endeavors and four very dialed clients. We climbed the Kautz Glacier Route and descended the Disappointment Cleaver. A wild traverse across the Nisqually Icefall topped off what turned out to be one of my favorite days ever in the mountains. Our group was fit, cohesive and upbeat, and it was great to finally climb and work with Marty again. I snapped a few photos along the way and here are the best of them. For a more complete trip report check out the Alpine Endeavors blog.

Sunday, one day after being back on the east coast I worked with an aspirant guide named Allison Berg. She's a competent climber who's climbed and led lots of 5.9 and easy 5.10 in the Gunks but has shied away from the roofier climbs. We met up for a day of jug hauling on steep classic 5.10's in the Gunks.

For me, finding time to train for rock climbing this spring has been hard to do and I'm a little bit behind as far as endurance goes. We climbed Bonnie's Roof Direct (1 pitch, 9+), Falled on Account of Strain (one pitch, 10b), Erect Direction (the best 10 in the Trapps?? 10c, 10a) and pitch one of Nurse's Aid (whoa. heads up and challenging, 10a/b PG-R). We had a great day together but my arms were smoked by the end.