Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Craggin in Leavenworth

I don't quite live in Leavenworth, but its still a place near to my heart and our family cabin (Trakka). So when the forecast isn't blue sky for days, and snow is melted to 5,000 feet, I love to head to Icicle or Tumwater Canyon for some rock climbing, siesta-ing, and chillin. Last week it was 102 in the afternoon, and the dark granite probably hit 120 in places. But by climbing in the morning and evening and relaxing by glacier-fed streams in the afternoon, perfection is reached. A little sweat, lots of numbing and inflammation-reducing ice water, hard climbs, and warm rock at night.
Sometimes its just climbing 5.fun or 5.7 for a couple pitches, topping out on a buttress overlooking the valley a thousand feet below and looking across into the Stuart range and the enchantments. Other days I'll work a hard boulder problem in one of the endless numbers of caves, or crimp tiny holds on 10+ sport routes.
Next up is some quality alpine climbing in the Enchantments themselves. 10 pitches 5.10??? If I planned ahead a bit more, I'd have a permit to set up base camp and chug along on routes all day, but that'll have to wait.


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