A Sentimental Journey Off The Couch To Granite Mountain

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Messages 1 - 42 of total 42 in this topic
drljefe

climber
Toostoned, AZ
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 3, 2009 - 11:04pm PT
Knowing that The Mountain would be closing for the peregrines a trip up to Prescott was in order.
First stop was Groom Creek, an excellent boulder garden in the pines. I met some dudes working on some hideous new V11 and was stoked that the next generation has found new and harder problems. I also met some beginner guys from Phoenix and gave them a tour of the awesome V0 circuit.
But the harder stuff is quality too- The Moonstone V6

Tomorrows objective...Granite Mountain

A free but cold 20 degree bivy in the Aquarium

My pardner would be none other than my old friend Bob J

I haven't climbed at the Mountain for 12 years. The last time I was there was to spread the ashes of my beloved companion, Kaya, three years ago. Her memorial was still there.
This is the "Heart of the Mountain" where we pause to ask for safe passage.

The new crag dog did splendidly on her first big mission.
Rosebud, the ramblin' rose, Pinetree Ledge.

For the past 12 years I've only climbed once or twice a year, mostly easy bouldering or simo-ing stuff behind a friend, never leading. I really wanted to lead something but I did not want to be gripped.
Bob was relieved that I didn't want him to be the ropegun on something demanding, and I was stoked that a climber of his caliber would actually rope up with me on something that both of us would ordinarily 4th class. Our mission was just a cruiser day paying our respects to The Mountain.
The second pitch of Debut is stellar, and damn, it felt good to be on the sharp end again.
Bob got to follow in his trainers.
Debut is the only route I ever soloed here, and the reason I chose it today was 'cause my old dog Kaya used to meet me at the top wagging her tail. Good memories of climbing with that dog.

A few cool ones of Bob
Somewhere in our bushwackin' mission Rosie introduced herself to some prickly pear. Par for the course, we did some cactus extraction/dog whispering.
Here are all the bitchin' routes we didn't do. Luckily we done did 'em all already(ok most of em). There's dudes up thar!


This little dog is remarkable. A day out at the Mountain is big for anyone or any dog. I'm really proud of her. She will be a worthy successor.
Kaya's beautiful spirit lives on. R.I.P girl.

The next day was Super Bowl Sunday, what better way to celebrate
Bob is a freak and an all around great human. Thanks bro!


"In another time's forgotten space
your eyes look from your mother's face.
Wildflower seed in the sand and stone
may the four winds blow you safely home."












ontheedgeandscaredtodeath

Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
Feb 3, 2009 - 11:08pm PT
Great post!
treeman

climber
mule city
Feb 3, 2009 - 11:26pm PT
Very nice Jefe, that brings back lots of memories.
Tim Maloney
The Wedge

Boulder climber
Bishop, CA
Feb 4, 2009 - 12:11am PT
Dude, we need to change the name of this thead to, DRL. Going out with our other BROTHER DRL, Dave H. from Tahoe. Dave is sending it. Got Ruckus last trip and today he bagged Bee Keeper Apprentice. Heading to the Druids tomorrow if any of you are interisted. Keep getting the rope up there Brothers. L8er -e
The Wedge

Boulder climber
Bishop, CA
Feb 4, 2009 - 12:13am PT
GO Geofe!
Largo

Sport climber
Venice, Ca
Feb 4, 2009 - 12:17am PT
Home cooking. Great stuff.

JL
bob

climber
Feb 4, 2009 - 12:31am PT
Nice Jefe! That really was a great time for me as well. Your dog....may it be rented?
Thanks for guiding and I'm an idiot for not getting any shots of you at the park. Lo siento amigo. Next time! The farm is goin and you're always welcome.
See ya soon.
Bob J.
Dirka

Trad climber
SF
Feb 4, 2009 - 03:20am PT
Bumpity.
MH2

climber
Feb 4, 2009 - 06:04am PT
Your photos all have something to say. A good story.
steelmnkey

climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
Feb 4, 2009 - 08:05am PT
Very nice!
No day at the Mountain is wasted!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Feb 4, 2009 - 11:24am PT
Even though everybody else might end up that way! LOL
atchafalaya

climber
Babylon
Feb 4, 2009 - 11:50am PT
Jefe, great TR. Where does the time go? Hope all is well, Tex
drljefe

climber
Toostoned, AZ
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 4, 2009 - 11:55am PT
Damn, old homies coming out of the woodwork.
pk_davidson

Trad climber
Albuquerque, NM
Feb 4, 2009 - 03:20pm PT
2 coool.

What a trip down memory lane, Debut was the first climb I ever did at the Mountain.
bob

climber
Feb 4, 2009 - 06:30pm PT
Bump! for a great couple of dayz.
Bobj.

dougs510

Social climber
down south
Feb 4, 2009 - 07:15pm PT
great thread.. thanks!
The Wedge

Boulder climber
Bishop, CA
Feb 4, 2009 - 10:52pm PT
Yo, Dave and the tahoe boys crushed it today some of them knocking down 5 v5. Hope to see ya next week. JUST a reminder that Jim E. got his knee scoped Monday the 9th. Make sure to check on him in 4-5 days once his food and smokes run out. L8er brothers -eric
drljefe

climber
Toostoned, AZ
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 4, 2009 - 11:03pm PT
We are everywhere.
MisterE

Trad climber
One Place or Another
Feb 5, 2009 - 11:51pm PT
Bump for the new cragdog and good times!
drljefe

climber
Toostoned, AZ
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 9, 2009 - 03:04pm PT
SHAMELESS

drljefe

climber
Old Pueblo, AZ
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 7, 2009 - 09:13pm PT
No shame at all. This trip got me fired up on climbing again!
Reconnecting with old friends, meeting new ones, and realizing that no matter how long a hiatus, I have always been, and will always be a climber.
{{{{{Stoke level HIGH}}}}}
drljefe

climber
Old Pueblo, AZ
Topic Author's Reply - May 14, 2010 - 01:46pm PT
bump
Zander

Trad climber
Berkeley
May 15, 2010 - 08:10pm PT
Don't know how I missed this one. Nice post. thanks,
Zander
survival

Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
Oct 21, 2010 - 12:39am PT
Wow, how did I miss this thread Jefe?

What a beautiful place. The climbing looks awesome!

It's even better since I "know" Rosebud. Now I see her introduction to the world, cool.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Oct 21, 2010 - 01:20am PT
Tgiving weekend if all goes well.

The Uncle has a new bit of electronics, but I bet he's solid by then.


getting psyched!
bob

climber
Oct 21, 2010 - 10:46am PT
I'll be around G. Mountain...............................

Bob J.
J. Werlin

Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
Oct 21, 2010 - 10:55am PT
So glad this one came around again as I missed the first show.

I always get choked up by these dog threads.

Good go, mate.
drljefe

climber
Old Pueblo, AZ
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 21, 2010 - 11:00am PT
You'll love it Munge.
Bob's your man.
I'll be up there soon too.
WooooHoooo.
Love the Mtn.

Survival, JWerlin~ pretty easy to miss a thread like this~ sub 5.7 touchy feely stuff usually sinks pretty fast around here.
Fact is, no matter the grade, a day at the mountain is always super rewarding. It's a magical place.
Tony Bird

climber
Northridge, CA
Oct 21, 2010 - 05:26pm PT
Knowing that The Mountain would be closing for the peregrines a trip up to Prescott was in order.

williamson rock near los angeles used to be the busiest climbing venue near the city, about 90 minutes' drive. it had probably more than a hundred climbers there every saturday and sunday during the summer season. it was closed because of an endangered frog in the creek. the last three years it was open, a nesting pair of peregrine falcons actually moved in. they were not there previously. they took up residence on eagle's roost buttress (should've been renamed for them) and kept climbers at bay, shutting down a favorite climb, but generally we tolerated each other just fine. there are lots of other granite crags in the area within a 15-minute flight of these speedy birds, but they chose williamson in spite of hordes of climbers.

like i've said before, it's a well-known fact that frogs will drop dead at the sight of a rockclimber, so i can understand the reason for shutting williamson down. god bless the u.s. forest service and their great, wise ways.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Oct 23, 2010 - 02:57am PT
kewl

touch base in a couple weeks as I confirm up plans or not.


drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 13, 2012 - 01:26pm PT
Time to hit the reset button.

Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Jan 13, 2012 - 01:27pm PT
bird closures?
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Jan 13, 2012 - 01:27pm PT
Does that mean it's now closed again?
originalpmac

Mountain climber
Anywhere I like
Jan 13, 2012 - 01:45pm PT
One of the better posts I've read. I lurk more then I post but I did my first leads on debut and some of the others. Swan slabs buddy! Used to work moonstone though never sent it. My prouder sends at groom were sucker problem (took at least sixty tries) and charlies angels. Thanks for the reminiscing.

"Roll away the dew"

Edit to say I just took about a year off climbing. Realized I had been neglecting a lot of stuff for the last five years that needed some catching up on. But I started going out this week in the ice park and my stoke is back. There is no shame in stopping for a bit. My friends gave me some ego based sh#t and that pushed me away further. I looked in myself to know when to reset. Back on the wagon now though. Cheers all!
survival

Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
Jan 13, 2012 - 01:53pm PT
Recall the days that still are to come
Some sing blue.....

Never could reach
it just slips away
But I try....
survival

Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
Jan 13, 2012 - 02:22pm PT
"Each of us lives within the universe—the prison—of his own brain. Projecting from it are millions of fragile sensory nerve fibers, in groups uniquely adapted to sample the energetic states of the world around us: heat, light, force and chemical composition. That is all we ever know of it directly; all else is logical inference." -Vernon Mountcastle


In other words, how did I get so ugly?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRWkAzqaNlE&feature=related
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 13, 2012 - 02:25pm PT
Where we should go
We just ride.

Time's a wastin'. Closure soon.

Farewell to you 'ol southern skies
I'm on my way!
steelmnkey

climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
Jan 13, 2012 - 02:26pm PT
Doesn't close until Feb. 1st.
But it's been pretty cold up there.

Coupla weekends ago it would have been primo...didn't pull the trigger.
philo

Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
Jan 13, 2012 - 02:27pm PT
TFPU. I love Granite Mountain.
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Jan 13, 2012 - 02:37pm PT
I have always wanted to go there and it looks like really good multipitch crack climbing. I think Pete Delenoy lives in the area. He put up a ton of classic stuff in the needles.
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 13, 2012 - 02:38pm PT
50's. Local reports nice in the sun if no wind.
Hey, how bout this, I'll report back!
It's awn!
Dickbob

climber
Westminster Colorado
Jan 13, 2012 - 03:23pm PT
Messages 1 - 42 of total 42 in this topic
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