Trip Report
Indian Creek...climbing, stewardship and a wee bit of partying.
Tuesday October 16, 2012 6:41pm
Last Saturday 70 volunteers wielded shovels, drills and rakes, channeling their inner carpenter, stonemason or horticulturist at the 4th annual AAC stewardship event at Indian Creek. The most incredible effort came from my wife Angela who hand formed 54 bison burgers loaded with chopped garlic, spent 2 and1/2 hours making homemade potato salad, drove to Olathe to purchase the last of their famous corn AND helped design the configuration of the new group site in Creek Pasture in addition to being the events, on the site, number one cheerleader.
The weather on Friday was frightful but a rainbow that evening was a harbinger of better days to come.
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Credit: donini
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We met with Bob Lever and the rest of the BLM staff at 8:30 am to get our marching orders.
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Credit: donini
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Our own Fritz came all the way from Idaho to help. He's the one sporting a safari hat with his back towards the camera. Heidi didn't want all of the single women on ST to get a clear look.
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blood, sweat but no tears
blood, sweat but no tears
Credit: donini
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Tom Bowker, above photo, came all the way from Maine to get schooled in crack climbing (he did great) and lend a hand building new tent platforms at Hamburger Rock.
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work before play
work before play
Credit: donini
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There were four projects: Hamburger Rock, creating a group site at Creek Pasture, building rock steps up to 4by4 Wall, and creating new sites at Super Bowl.
The rain the night before softened the soil and made the moving dirt at Creek Pasture a lot easier.
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Credit: donini
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This crew is making the dirt fly!
This crew is making the dirt fly!
Credit: donini
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Rocks needed moving to.
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Tom Kelly, owner of Bisquit, the climbing dog in Front Range Freaks.
Tom Kelly, owner of Bisquit, the climbing dog in Front Range Freaks.
Credit: donini
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Channeling the "inner carpenter" refurbishing picnic tables and building fences.
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The boys from Ouray.
The boys from Ouray.
Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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A sculpturess at work.
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Gina from Eldorado Canyon
Gina from Eldorado Canyon
Credit: donini
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The work day is ending and the troops are regathering for the bison burger barbecue.
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Working on that carbon footprint.
Working on that carbon footprint.
Credit: donini
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Credit: donini
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Everyone seemed stoked with their accomplishments and brought big appetites to the barbeque.
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Darrin Reay outdoor chef extraordinaire.
Darrin Reay outdoor chef extraordinaire.
Credit: donini
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The burgers were cooked by Tim Eihausen, Ouray's best chef.
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Who says the chef can't have a brew?
Who says the chef can't have a brew?
Credit: donini
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A variety of adult beverages were consumed around the campfire which was kept burning until 3:00 am by students from Western State University in Gunnison- youth will be served.
As promised, I conducted a crack climbing clinic the next day at Super Crack Buttress.
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Putting up a rope on Super Crack
Putting up a rope on Super Crack
Credit: donini
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Tom Bowker on Gorilla Crack.
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Credit: donini
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Think Pink, one of my favorites on Battle of the Bulge.
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Credit: donini
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The event was sponsored by the West Slope Section of the American Alpine Club with great support from the Access Fund, the Rocky Mountain Field Institute and, most importantly, the 70 hard working and hard playing people who came.





  Trip Report Views: 4,126
donini
About the Author
donini is a trad climber from Ouray, Colorado.

Comments
Capt.

climber
some eastside hovel
  Oct 16, 2012 - 06:49pm PT
That looks proud!!!Will this go on next year? I would like to attend.
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
  Oct 16, 2012 - 06:54pm PT
Nice job getting people motivated Jim
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Author's Reply  Oct 16, 2012 - 06:55pm PT
It was the fourth annual event, it will continue on the second weekend of October each year.
SCseagoat

Trad climber
Santa Cruz
  Oct 16, 2012 - 07:07pm PT
Wow! Neat Event. We don't head up to Moab until next week. Wish we went earlier to get to this event also.

Wonderful pictutres! Thanks much.


Susan
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
  Oct 16, 2012 - 07:21pm PT

Maybe next year, Jim!
I spent Saturday working on a trail at North Table Mountain with Jeffco Open Space, and on Sunday at the not yet opened, new Staunton State park near Aspen Park, Colorado, building trail at the base of some awesome cliffs!
Reeotch

climber
4 Corners Area
  Oct 16, 2012 - 08:01pm PT
Much praise to you, Jim, and all the others who helped out.
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Oct 16, 2012 - 08:55pm PT
It was a fun & fine weekend for us "old-fogs from Idaho."

Very enjoyable to meet a bunch of "like-minded people" from ages teens to sixties.

A few photos from the rainy Friday.


Donini led a few of us on a hike to a small set of Anaszi ruins.


Friday evening, the rain storms quit visiting and a pleasant evening in camp was a reality.
Norwegian

Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
  Oct 16, 2012 - 09:00pm PT
5th class effort,
ground up.

yea!
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
  Oct 16, 2012 - 10:14pm PT
Nice work!
Rhodo-Router

Gym climber
sawatch choss
  Oct 16, 2012 - 11:18pm PT
Nice work!

i love the smell of rain on sagebrush.
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
  Oct 16, 2012 - 11:20pm PT
A community at work, great stuff......good on you all.
Roxy

Trad climber
CA Central Coast
  Oct 16, 2012 - 11:21pm PT
two blue camalots up!

nice work, great TR!
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Oct 17, 2012 - 01:45am PT
The "Work-day!"

An amazing amount of folks showed up, and the BLM supervisors were nearly overwhelmed with the labor pool.

Heidi & I quickly realized the "picnic-table-restoration" group had many restorers and an adequate amount of: saws, sockets, chisels, & vice-grips.

We joined the group that was "terra-forming" our campsite.

Much dirt & many rocks were moved, per Donini's photos.

Many small shrubs & cacti were carefully moved, and thousands of Russian Thistles (tumbleweeds) were removed.





nature

climber
Boulder, CO
  Oct 17, 2012 - 12:10am PT
looks like a blast. Thanks for putting in the work!

Next year we'll do sushi!
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Oct 17, 2012 - 01:34am PT
Great views!


Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
  Oct 17, 2012 - 01:35am PT
Thank you for posting. Wish I lived closer and had time at the moment...too much work (I guess shouldn't complain!).
mountain dog

Trad climber
over the hills and far away
  Oct 17, 2012 - 01:40am PT
Nice!
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Oct 17, 2012 - 01:50am PT
maybe next year
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Oct 17, 2012 - 01:50pm PT
Sunday at Supercrack Buttress.


Donini trotted up Supercrack and then explained hand-crack 101.


Some of the students climbed the route, some of us old-fogs did not hurt its reputation.

Some other ropes went up on nearby cracks and a good time was had by all.

Donini then ran a rope up Incredible Hand Crack and more participants climbed it---or tried to climb it.



Heidi gave it a try, but the jams hurt too much on the first part. She laybacked it instead.

I made it to just before the overhanging part, and ran out of energy.

Mark, Heidi, & I said our fond farewells at about 3:00 PM and went for a petroglyph hike.



A great time! Much thanks to all participants & organizers.
nopantsben

climber
europe
  Oct 17, 2012 - 02:07pm PT
WOW Jim, Awesome. Congrats on a great event...
I'll come and see it from up close next year I hope.

cheers
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
  Oct 17, 2012 - 02:30pm PT
Nice job you guys!

Saw a few familiar faces from the past.
zBrown

Ice climber
  Oct 17, 2012 - 02:34pm PT
Good job there.
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
  Oct 17, 2012 - 02:39pm PT
Such a worthwhile thing you guys did. Hope I can get there 2013.
MFM
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Oct 17, 2012 - 03:41pm PT
Great TR guys!!!! Thanks!
k-man

Gym climber
SCruz
  Oct 17, 2012 - 04:51pm PT
Long live the Long Livers!


Thanks for the IC Love...
eeyonkee

Trad climber
Golden, CO
  Oct 17, 2012 - 05:00pm PT
What a great idea!
PellucidWombat

Mountain climber
Draperderr, by Bangerter, Utah
  Oct 17, 2012 - 07:16pm PT
Fun stuff! Thanks Donini and Fritz for all of the wonderful photos. My last two visits to the Creek I looked at those ruins from the road and wondered about accessible they would be for a side trip :-)
crazytom

climber
Maine
  Oct 18, 2012 - 04:04am PT
It was a great event and I got schooled during my week at the creek. When you watch Donini float up Super Crack with 3 pieces of gear it looks soooo easy. Then I try it on tr. Geez, Schooled!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cuckawalla

Trad climber
Grand Junction, CO
  Oct 18, 2012 - 10:25am PT
Hey Jim We are having a Trail day in Unaweep This weekend (saturday at 10 A.M.) I was wondering how maybe we could get the AAC Westernslope division in on stuff around the Grand Junction Area?

thanks,
Jesse
cowpoke

climber
  Oct 18, 2012 - 11:33am PT
thanks to all of those involved. such a beautiful place.
Fletcher

Boulder climber
Institute of Better Bouldering-DirtbagDad Division
  Oct 18, 2012 - 12:01pm PT
Great to see folks getting out there and helping out and then having some fun. These volunteer events can bring out the best in people.

You've got rainbows, where are the lollipops? Maybe someone forgot to report those? Ha ha!

Would love to make it out there to help out someday.

Eric
Gal

Trad climber
going big air to fakie
  Oct 18, 2012 - 12:10pm PT
Good stuff... IC is special.
Norwegian

Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
  Oct 18, 2012 - 01:02pm PT
the last crack climbing syminar
i endured was at the direction
of one tm herbert.

i never forgot his spicy advice.

jim, someday i'd like to hear what
your respectable travels have taught you
about engagement with the mountain.
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Oct 18, 2012 - 02:09pm PT
Tami: I confess to not noticing any Tami-toons. However it was my first trip to "The Crick" and I did not begin to go everywhere.
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Author's Reply  Oct 19, 2012 - 09:01am PT
Cuckawala....too late to rally the troops this year, let's stay in touch for next year. Tami, some of your wonderful cartoons still grace the signs.
Norwegian, we will share a rope.
crazytom

climber
Maine
  Oct 19, 2012 - 03:16am PT
Tami, your toons are in the kiosk at the Donelly Canyon parking. I loved them! I should've taken a pic.
Tork

climber
Yosemite
  Oct 19, 2012 - 11:10am PT
Thanks to everyone for all the hard work!

Extra thanks to Donini!!!!


I will be there soon, wish I could have joined the group.

Any chance I could get directions to those cool looking ruins??

Jeff
troutboy

Trad climber
Newark, DE
  Oct 19, 2012 - 11:56am PT
Nice.

I already put this on the calendar for next year----->Moab biking and IC clean up weekend over Columbus Day.

Watch the east coast face climber get schooled on cracks.

Now I just need to make it stick.

Tim S
tellkhh

Trad climber
Telluride, CO
  Oct 23, 2012 - 02:22pm PT
Yay!!!! Thanks for digging in.
I will definitely be there next year.
Especially when I get a call from Ralph asking me what kind of dinner I want. ; )
See you down there soon.
ionlyski

Trad climber
Polebridge, Montana
  Oct 23, 2012 - 04:03pm PT

Just one blue camalot of course.

edit-maybe he does have two for this one. That should be about right for SuperCrack
Alexey

climber
San Jose, CA
  Oct 23, 2012 - 04:40pm PT
We met Jim Donini with his Splitter Cam students two weeks ago at Supercrack.
He is bordering start of Supercrack to place bomber first piece (blue?) for apprentice to make his lead save.
Genetic, luck and lifestyle..
imStein

Trad climber
Triumph, Idaho
  Oct 24, 2012 - 10:52am PT
Well done !
A wealth of good photos makes us all want to hang there.
Love those glyphs.
melski

Trad climber
bytheriver
  Oct 24, 2012 - 04:55pm PT
grey,cold skyes ,pull the heart stings hard ,thanks to all effort by so many people,,indian creek schools in many ways,,peaceandlove,,
cornel

climber
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
  Oct 28, 2012 - 10:20am PT
Awesome job gang, way to give something back!. I really miss the Creek. Spent a lot time there a deacafe ago. Best crack climbing in the world in my opinion.
cornel

climber
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
  Oct 28, 2012 - 10:30am PT
Want to improve tour crack climbing skills? Just spend the better part of a fall or winter there. You will need at least 4 of every size cam. Absolutely the best crack climbing in N America..
Johnny K.

climber
  Jul 16, 2013 - 07:33pm PT
UpFor#3Mr.Donini
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Author's Reply  Jul 16, 2013 - 07:53pm PT
Thanks for bumping this. On Thursday I am going to Monticello to receive the Utah BLM Volunteer of the Year Award. The head of the BLM is travelling down to present the award. The local administrators will then take him to Indian Creek to show him the work that we have done on our volunteer day over the last four years.

Stewardship does matter...showing public land managers that a special interest group (climbers) not only cares but is also willing to help maintain and restore the area where they recreate is invaluable in helping to keep those areas open to use.

Put it on your calendar.....the second week end in October will be the Fifth Annual IC Volunteer Day. Let's make this one the best yet!
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
  Jul 16, 2013 - 08:29pm PT
Way to go Jim! You are Exactly the sort of person we need to represent climbers and our' side' in this!

Way to go on taking the time cleaning up the area like that and establishing it as a n annual event, too!!
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Jul 16, 2013 - 10:03pm PT
Man, I would really like to make it back to the Creek. This seems like a great event.
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Jul 17, 2013 - 12:19am PT
JIM! Congrats on the BLM reward. Heidi & I really enjoyed the event and work-day last year. Share the dates and place and we will be there again.

Go