What a great weekend! I just got back from the Obed River in Tennessee and we had a blast. Rain was coming down in West Virginia so we had to go with a closer sandstone alternative.  After meeting my good buddy Chris Dorrity on Saturday we ran over to North Clear Creek and went to town on a few weekend warm-ups. The 5.10s are going down just fine but I still need to learn the finer points of redpointing harder routes. Sport climbing…

Sunday Chris, Lee and I went over to towards the Y-12 wall. Lee and I dabbled on a few of the moderates before Chris worked his project 5.13a, “Born on the 4th of July.” I got a two hang on “Psycho Hosebeast” and then got it clean on the next try. My first 5.12 redpoint! So not all hope is lost, I could be a sport climber yet. Then I lost Lee’s dog which turned into a mild epic. No harm though, the pooch was found later that night.

On Sunday Lee’s brother Charlie and a friend met us for some routes. We went over to Little Clear Creek and put up a bunch of moderates for everyone to play on. Everyone was busy. Chris found another little project and I onsighted a steep 5.11. It is amazing how much stronger I feel after only a few trips to this sandstone mecca. Chris and I both got some great burns on a brand new shorter route that has an awesome dyno on it. I was sauced and came off after a valient effort that saw me through the crux, only to peel pulling over the roof’s lip. That thing is going clean next time!

Adopt-a-Crag will be on September 12th at the Obed and if anyone is interested in heading over for a day of trail work followed by bolt clipping and then food and brews back at Del’s place (the climber’s camp), let me know!

jim@appalachianmountaininstitute.com