Blog #4

My much anticipated return trip to Bishop included a lot of cookie eating and sun-tanning, and very little rock climbing. It was my spring break, the weather was really hot, and I was on vacation. I really have nothing to update about myself, but everyone else was sending! Hopefully this doesn't make me look like lazy...

photo by Jeff Sillcox

While I was in town, Lisa hiked Xavier's Roof (V11), a steep crimpy problem with a really hard one hand mantle finish at the lip, and completed the gorgeous and proud twenty-five-move Haroun and the Sea of Stories (V11/12). I was glad to be a witness to the action. I played on both problems, putting a good few days into Haroun, but ended up having to leave it for another trip.

Lisa sending Haroun. Photo by Jeff Sillcox

A little team work on Xavier's Roof photo by Jeff Sillcox

News of the fabulous finish of Xavier's Roof spread fast, and in just two days time it had seen six ascents, including Wills Young and Nic Oklobzjia. During most of these ascents, I was watching the freckles on my shoulders spring to life.

Jeff Sillcox figured out some sick beta on A Maze of Death (V12) and quickly added that to his list of completed Bishop climbs. I hiked a pad up with him, hung out in the sun and took photos. His project list probably now consists only of sit-starts and alternative endings. I also ended up doing Maze and it is fantastic; a patina face full of five stars. I love it when problems start on jugs, and end on jugs. Also when top-outs aren't scary.

Jeff Sillcox on Maze of Death. Photo by Alex Johnson

Cory French sent Form Destroyer (V12), right after Jeff broke the start hold! This problem looks sick; it's one big move out of a roof to a crimp on the lip. I would have loved to try it, but I went out to watch on my rest day and didn't bring my shoes.

I did do another boulder problem on this trip! The Womb, a.k.a. A Birthing Experience, a.k.a. Childbirth, a.k.a. I have no idea what this boulder is called, but I did it! It took me two days, at least a dozen tries each day, and it is V1. The pictures pretty much explain it all. You lay down in a hole in this rock and you have to climb out. It is so much harder than it looks. It is one of my proudest sends.