Soggy Scaling

The walk into the crag at Little Wilson is a mile meandering downhill. That, of course, means a significant haul out for weary climbers. I carry the most equipment in since I have the lead equipment and a rope, so I decided to repair the pack straps on an old day pack so that someone else could carry my rope. After seam ripping the old dry rotted plastic on the straps, I made the pattern you see out of holiday wrapping paper. It was reversible so that I could use it on both straps. I went to the local department store and bought eight inches (x54") of pack material in my favorite color. I stuffed the straps with polyfil just before handsewing it closed.

I was concerned outgoing that the crag would be soaked. I was not far from wrong.

You see through the camera's lens the fog looking bright, but that is because it is collecting light in a longer exposure to make the contrast reasonable for the darker areas. In person it looks much darker. The crack she has her hand in is slowly dripping. You can see the roof that enabled us to climb at all, protecting the face below it from a total soaking.

Having led the climb, I was spraying beta. Generally, these younger climbers appreciate that, but the noise of the stream carried half of it away they later informed me. I also think that I would really like a pair of belayers glasses ("BG's").

These young people are bouldering gym rats and not afraid to use a high foot. Everyone got to this hold. It is the next one about six inches up the crack where the water caused folks to skate out.

As I commented to her, I see two open face sandwiches.

In a well-watered mountain holler

Let this guy give it a go.

Bushes are off limits. You begin to see that the scene is brightening a bit.

The wide-angle close-up effect makes me appear to have Pop-eye forearm. He is doing quite the mantle move to encouraging voices. No, really, I am safe here. I did look away, but in less than a second, I was pulling my brake hand down to my side. I have been in full conversations and caught people. The trick is having your real attention on the climber despite the surroundings.

She is demonstrating the high step.

...and again.

I get the hand chalking, but that faraway look suggests deeper thinking.

She was the first one to make further progress, topping out.

She is about to make it go.

A well-behaved crag dog

There are places in these NC mountains that actually are temperate rainforest. With the reduced drying in this deep holler, I think this might just be a wet spot.

What are you asking?

Evidence of even higher water in the boulders and wood

From the mosses and hornworts, I say this rarely doesn't drip, but serious, everything was dripping this day.

Instruction on Grigri use and "shadow belaying?".

Move in motion

I am amazed sometimes at how much muscles and joints are flexed and contorted while climbing. Check out that left wrist.

Chillin' at the crag

Second one to the top

Another assault

Maybe on a drier day

Because there were no rings where I set up the anchor and no rock or trunk around which to wrap my rope for a rappel, I had to down climb. I had a minor mishap. The protection caught me and the result was "only a flesh wound." 

A salamander find was not surprising in the wet next to a creek.

A fun crew whose spirits were not dampened by the weather.

We say goodbye to B for a season as she takes up residence in The Big Apple. We will miss your determined tries on each and every pitch.

About time to slog out to the car.

It was a fun trip and we look forward to the next installment. I give glory to my God and thanks for His protection of us to and from and on the rock.