Robin's Bouldering Page: Welcoming Spring at Bushwhack Rocks

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Welcoming Spring at Bushwhack Rocks

It's officially Spring! As much as people talk about the colors of the fall foliage on the East Coast, I've always been much more impressed with the colors of trees full of Spring flowers. Sure the reds, yellows, and oranges are pretty, but they're nothing compared to the bright pinks, whites, yellows, and purples we'll be seeing in the next few weeks. As I walk outside, even the birds seem excited.

We welcomed the new season with a trip to Bushwhack Rocks on Sunday, doing a healthy mix of toprope, trad, and bouldering. Many of the routes were the same as we did last weekend, including The Way Life Should Be, Bifurcation, Siren's Call, and Beginner's Crack. We also got on a nice sustained face climb called Sickle Edge Anemia and a good crack called Anduril, slightly further down the main wall.

Colin Fergus bridging the gap. Photo: Mark 'Indy' Kochte

Me on The Way Life Should Be. Photo: Mark 'Indy' Kochte

Erin O'Brien on Siren's Call. Photo: Mark 'Indy' Kochte

Matt Elletson on Bifurcation. Photo: Mark 'Indy' Kochte

Pennie Close on Anduril. Photo: Mark 'Indy' Kochte

We also started working on an intense new climb, which despite being on toprope required three crashpads and a few spotters to adequately protect. None of us managed to finish it yet, but we did have several dramatic falls too keep the mood light.

Ben Chamish scoping out the landing

Colin Fergus squeezing new holds into the rock. Photo: Mark 'Indy' Kochte

Guess he didn't squeeze hard enough. Photo: Mark 'Indy' Kochte

Matt Elletson trying from the other side. Photo: Mark 'Indy' Kochte

Lenita Mccray seeing what tiny fingers can do. Photo: Mark 'Indy' Kochte

Do I really look this mad when I climb? Photo: Mark 'Indy' Kochte

After abandoning our project for the day, we decided to get in a little bouldering while the sunlight lasted. I did Tourette's Razor a couple more times, breaking off a huge hold in the process, and we got on a few boulders that I hadn't been on the last few times out. New problems included That's Not a Woodpecker, Sharp Tooth, Milli Vanilli, and Gollum's Pancake. Colin also worked on a couple problems in a small roof area that I had been checking out a couple weeks ago, though we called it a day after my knee made an unnatural popping sound and he sliced his finger open when the crux hold sheared off. Nice of him to thin out the dangerous holds for our next trip out! We'll have to make that soon...