Trip Report
LEAVENWORTH- a quick visit (TR)

by RyanD
Friday May 16, 2014 5:36am
So you got tricked into clicking on a bouldering TR.

Sorry about that, if you were expecting real climbing probably best to look elsewhere right now.

If you are into just some fun practice climbing then maybe there is something here for you amidst the sarcasm :-)

I had an unexpected 3 days off so i woke up Sunday morning & drove the 420km from my driveway into the weird little utopia that is Leavenworth to meet a good friend from Oregon whom i hadn't seen for some time. It was a fluke we were able to line up a quick trip & I was super Psyched!!

I made the first crux getting through the border after a good 45 min wait in the middle of the church rush.

Next I shamefully drove past Index.


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And no we didn't go to snowshed wall & do outer space either.


In fact i didn't even see any real climbers actually climbing there.


But it sure was pretty.


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I think i even saw goatboy smellz hanging out downtown.



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When i showed up after almost 6 hrs en route we wanted to climb rocks, just for practicing. So we crossed the river.



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It was fun on the other side.



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Then we went to the Fridge. Fridge Center was fun but Fridge Right was greasy. Maybe i was greasy?


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Then we went to the cube, one of the coolest boulders around for moderate high-balls. Despite feeling like my balls were not realizing their full potential, luckily i was at least high.


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There's even a crack! We were now Trad climbing!!



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Sort of….



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When it got dark we set up camp & cut up some fish & partied a bit. I was pretty tired from all the driving & laying on my crash pad all day so i crawled into the back of my car and passed out.


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It was a great place to wake up.


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This is DMT style right here :-] Breakfast.


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My friend Jaison is a Japanese chef & i love camping with him, aside from being great company we always have such nice, unusual food.

And then we climbed some rocks.


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We kind of ended up partying a bit this day after warming up so i forgot to take many photos of the afternoon/evening session.

Here's one.


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Then it got dark, and we were out of beer.


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So we cooked good food & PTFO.

Woke up again in the back of the car to a nice feeling that it was going to be a good day.


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Was also looking like the tent wasn't going to get set up. #NBD

So since we didn't have to break down camp we went & climbed some more rocks. Just for fun.


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Well it ended up being fun after all. Jaison had to leave @ 2 & i was adopted by some fellow Canadians Tucker & Dave & their homie Shawn from FLO-RIDA. Well, we all decided to have some fun too!


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When all my skin departed, i finally chose to depart as well.

There was still some sunshine in the tumwater canyon so i stripped down & cleansed my soul in the Wenatchee. A great way to end the trip before the journey home.


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After that i time warped to Squamish via Taco Tuesday in Gold Bar & a smooth crossing at the Peace Arch, exactly here i felt America & all it's freedom release me & dump me back into reality.


Just for those of you that hung out, Do you know what's up with this?? I snapped it on my way back, it would have been on the south side of hwy 2.



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I thought there might be some good boulders in the woods underneath? Any info would be appreciated.


Cheers!


  Trip Report Views: 2,838
RyanD 		About the Author
RyanD is a climber from Squamish who is always looking forward to going rock climbing on rocks of any size.

Comments
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
  May 16, 2014 - 05:50am PT
That's Mt Index. Real pretty little lake up there.

Sweet TR, thanks!
this just in

climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
  May 16, 2014 - 10:00am PT
Hell yeah Ryan, nothing like a great practice climbing TR. Those look fun. Thanks for the pics and TR!
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  May 16, 2014 - 10:12am PT
Nice Ryan, looks like a good time!!!
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
  May 16, 2014 - 10:46am PT
After that i time warped to Squamish via Taco Tuesday in Gold Bar

There is some pretty good practice climbing above Gold Bar. The boulders below Zeke's are popular with the pad people.
Big Mike

Trad climber
BC
  May 16, 2014 - 10:30am PT
Ya buddy.. What is this bouldering thing you speak of? Lol
Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
  May 16, 2014 - 10:39am PT


Thanks for the climbing and local content. It's always nice to put a face to the ST name&avatar, too.

A sit/lying start to the Cube Crack? Humm. You need to do some real climbing. ;-) Hey, I need to do any kind of climbing.


lots of climbing photos right on to that.
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
The fake McCoy from nevernever land.
  May 16, 2014 - 11:03am PT
good times, cool pics.
There's even a crack! We were now Trad climbing!!
I LOL'd at this, coupled with the picture that follows, cheers.
MH2

Boulder climber
Andy Cairns
  May 16, 2014 - 11:14am PT
Sunny. And real climbing, too. Any Gill problems there?

Good idea going to the dry side, Ryan.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
  May 16, 2014 - 11:20am PT
420 km to go bouldering? OK, since it was to meet a friend. Was his name Al Gore?
I think I remember seeing some boulders there. ;-).
Oh, and that last pic, only go up there in the winter when the brush is buried. Trust me.
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
  May 16, 2014 - 11:31am PT
Ah, the fellowship of the international non-rope!

But it's weird, cuz you seem to be like all channeling Moosedrool's style & sh!t.

Good times, by whatever index, are still good times & sh!t.
snowhazed

Trad climber
Oaksterdam, CA
  May 16, 2014 - 11:43am PT
"Despite feeling like my balls were not realizing their full potential, luckily i was at least high."

all time
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  May 16, 2014 - 12:07pm PT
Boulderdonkulous
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
  May 16, 2014 - 02:04pm PT
Bumping quality content.
L

climber
Just livin' the dream
  May 16, 2014 - 02:40pm PT
RyanD = Ryan DELIVERS (as always!)
Great TR...especially the pix.
I've always considered bouldering climbing too...silly me. ;-)
Loved the rusty bridge photo and the highball humor.
Many thanks.
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
  May 16, 2014 - 02:57pm PT
Nice TR. Since when is bouldering not climbing? After all, the only difference between the rocks you climbed and, say, the RNWF of Half Dome (as done by, say Alex Honnold) is height!

John
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
  May 16, 2014 - 04:10pm PT
Nice Ryan!
Good strategy, all around good strategy.
RyanD

climber
Author's Reply  May 16, 2014 - 09:21pm PT
Thanks all, nice to come back from climbing & read all the funny comments by many of my favourite supertopians. Too many to respond to individually but they are all really appreciated so thank you :-)


My only hope is that if i practice enough & focus on having fun that I will one day be ready for real climbing, I thought I was today when I left the house but apparently I still need more practice.


Mouse, you are bang on. I channelled my inner Moosedrool here as best I could, it was good practice for when I do some real climbing & am ready to write a TR on the topic of climbing.


BK! Thanks for looking out for me, I was weary of ghosts recommends & glad you outed him & all his sandbaggery.

And BJ it's been awhile since you've been there I take it? That's not royal flush, although I'd probably climb it the same way!

The Hawk, yeah! Tickem up!


W.L. You are so right dude! I blew it on the tunes!! Next time for sure, and to be honest I don't think my music selection would have much appeal with the crowd around here.

Ok, actually W.L. just for you - just in case you want to give it another scan :-) BTW this is NOT the type of music I listen to, but the kitchen boys @ work keep playing this one & it cracks me up. Might be up your alley :-)

[Click to View YouTube Video]





Andy, I don't think Gills legacy graced the PNW unfortunately, but John Sherman does mention swiftwater in Stone Crusade & basically sez it's junk lol.


As for L, JEleazarian, & the rest of you that still think bouldering is real climbing- Especially after reading this- I've got news for you, you are all delusional porch monkeys, bouldering is only meant for playing, practicing & having fun. Who would deem such meaningless side effects worth attaching to the serious, extreme activity that is climbing!

Reilly thanks for the heads up, seriously though when I become a real climber i'd like to climb a peak like that as well as it's entrails(boulders).







FRUMY

Trad climber
Bishop,CA
  May 16, 2014 - 10:22pm PT
Nice TFPU.
Daphne

Trad climber
Northern California
  May 16, 2014 - 10:33pm PT
Awesome, keep these kinds of TRs coming. I will read them all based on this one.
And I only do "real" climbing, so ize totally surprised by my enjoyment factor ;)
Relic

Social climber
Weenie
  May 16, 2014 - 10:42pm PT
This TR sucks. There's no pics of any tacos. Poser!
Todd Eastman

Social climber
Putney, VT
  May 17, 2014 - 12:05am PT
Nice story!

Still picking off ticks?

Or forgot to check!
RyanD

climber
Author's Reply  May 17, 2014 - 12:28am PT
Uhhhhhhhhhh




So Todd, you are saying that maybe that's not a pimple in my bellybutton??


Todd Eastman

Social climber
Putney, VT
  May 17, 2014 - 01:21am PT
Could be lint...
NutAgain!

Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
  May 17, 2014 - 07:01pm PT
Looks like fun, even if I would be looking for taller fun. Fun is fun. But about that DMT breakfast shot... I don't know the guy, but I suspect that the fish would be swapped out for a burger.
Jingy

climber
Random Nobody
  May 17, 2014 - 09:24pm PT
Great Photo TR!!!

Thank you
klk

Trad climber
cali
  May 17, 2014 - 09:53pm PT
awesome.

spent many happy hours on l-worth boulders, nice to see the area again
ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
  May 18, 2014 - 03:08am PT
[Click to View YouTube Video]
L

climber
Just livin' the dream
  May 18, 2014 - 12:44pm PT
DELUSIONAL PORCH MONKEYS?????!!!!!!!

Why you little
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psychic!
How'd you know?

;-)
Studly

Trad climber
WA
  May 18, 2014 - 01:09pm PT
Awesome TR! There is no place better to wake up the out in the Icicle. Enjoying a cup of coffee as you shake off the dawn, getting ready for another day on the rocks. Its been 40 friggin years since i spent my first night there. Still loving it like no other cragging area.
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
  May 18, 2014 - 02:13pm PT
THIS AIN'T CLIMBIN'!!!!!!!!
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
  May 18, 2014 - 05:12pm PT
Nice to have some variety in TRs! Leavenworth is awesome. Cool little town. I love camping with friends that cook well :) Seems like Jaison is a catch :)
le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
  May 20, 2014 - 01:46pm PT
Holy cow that area looks incredibly beautiful. You are planting roadtrip seeds in all of us. Thanks!

Any hot springs in the area?
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