Vedauwoo Boogaloo 09 TR - lots of photos

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Ed Hartouni

Trad climber

Livermore, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 30, 2009 - 03:00am PT

the last bits... the trip home. Anders asks "How did 510 OW do?"

Well, I was worried too, and I think I didn't sleep well on Wednesday night after Jaybro and I picked up Em in Laramie because of a little hiccup that the car did at the top of the long grade out to Vedauwoo... just a momentary pause, but I was worried.

Remember the illustrator Peter Aschwanden in John Muir's How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive Forever, the book that we all had back in the day? Do you remember this illustration?

that was Wednesday night....

...what exactly happened? well check out the video for the on-the-road details...

http://www.vimeo.com/6338676

The bottom line is that the bell housing which connects the transmission to the engine cracked. Detlev, my mechanic and the guy who got it all together, believes that a small pre-existing crack in the bell housing came back from the tranny rebuilders... Things weren't going to last too long and the crack probably grew in the intervening 7,000 miles of travel I put on the beast since April.

here is how the bell housing looked today when I went in to pick up the car, now running fine....

so it is pretty lucky that it all came apart somewhere easy to get out of... I'm thinking of upgrading to AAA Premier now... it might save me some $s in towing costs...

That's it for this year's trip... hopefully next year's will be less exciting, at least in terms of 510 OW.

Unforgiven

Mountain climber

Dirt

Aug 30, 2009 - 10:05am PT

climb and punishment always felt like 5.8 imo. bummer about the van

Ed Hartouni

Trad climber

Livermore, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 30, 2009 - 02:43pm PT

Afterwords....

Sunday, August 23rd Mike was out at Maple Canyon working on a long time project of his, [url="http://www.mountainproject.com/v/utah/maple_canyon/right_fork/105997764"]Sprout[/url] 5.13a in The Pipe Dream area cave. Mike has been working this project for quite some time, and as a climber now in his 50s (just) it was inspirational that he still had his goals set on even harder climbs... this his hardest lead, a personal best.

Given that he had been climbing with us the week before we were all clued in on his mental and physical state, and his very humble approach to all the climbing we did... from complaining about how hard Fantasia was for him, the pain of pulling on the razor sharp crystals of Piece of Dirt and tweaking a shoulder on Sugar Crack to his send of Hung Like a Horse. He was ever ready to give up the sharp end of the rope, and a super encouraging partner.

While we were waiting for the tow truck to arrive in Fernley Jaybro texted him to find out what had transpired that day on the project... the one word reply was:

Sprout!

which we took as a good sign.... he later emailed this picture of him on his send.

A great accomplishment for a great guy, and an inspiration to me, personally.

Zander reminded me yesterday that I had said that I am still getting better every year, and I think I am, actually. All these guys and gals I climb with are the reason, thanks to all of you!

P.Kingsbury

Trad climber

the jeep

Aug 30, 2009 - 03:27pm PT

Go Mike!!!!! very cool!!!

excellent TR!! lots of photos for sure!!

cheers,

Patrick

Jingy

Social climber

Flatland, Ca

Aug 30, 2009 - 05:05pm PT

Super Kick A$$ TR to all involved.

Looks like the time spent away from the Tacostand was time well spent in the company of good people and fun times.

Thanks Ed for the TR.

rgold

Trad climber

Poughkeepsie, NY

Aug 30, 2009 - 07:34pm PT

Looks like a cool trip Ed. I even had a momentary longing to taste a bit of OW, but I quickly lay down and it went away.

You guys rock.

dickcilley

Social climber

Wisteria Ln.

Aug 31, 2009 - 03:08am PT

The gunks has it's own OW (Ventre de Boeuf).

Tarbuster

climber

right here, right now

Aug 31, 2009 - 10:12am PT

It ain't everyday you crack a bell housing.

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Aug 31, 2009 - 10:27am PT

"It rings for thee..."

Chiloe

Trad climber

Lee, NH

Aug 31, 2009 - 10:39am PT

Great mix of photos and captions from different viewpoints, conveying the rhythm of the trip.
Which looks very physical, you folks are tough.

Studly

Trad climber

Aug 31, 2009 - 10:52am PT

Great TR. Looked like a ton of fun!

Prod

Trad climber

A place w/o Avitars apparently

Aug 31, 2009 - 11:06am PT

Wow Great thread. Now who do I bill the last hour and a half to?

Prod.

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Sep 1, 2009 - 04:07am PT

Shermen, Peabody....

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Sep 1, 2009 - 09:05pm PT

an obscure but worthy squeeze FA of Nurse Ratchet's that has so far gone un recorded and unrepeated, thogth the Cat, Frank Black, may have done it, as well.