Sunday, August 26, 2018

Woodland Stones III

... some recent summertime bouldering - a bit of old and new...

... up on the ridge...

... 'Balor'...

... north face of the 'Pagan'...

... another angle...

...and some variation...

... 'Pagan' east face...

... old route on this short steep face at the 'Rockpile'...

... and a new work in progress...

... one move from "stickin' it"...

... walked right by this short route probably a hundred times over the years...

... endin' a day on 'Mr. Foley'...

... gotta' walk right by it anyway...

... some stuff river west...

... north face of 'Mojo' - not bad nailing that (here) first try with no falls - is some small crimps and thin edging... in archery they say your best shots are your first three of the day - we think that's true in bouldering as well...

... and some variation...

... ''Crawley Bit' - goin' for the ridiculous dyno and small edge... put up twenty-five years ago by our buddy 'Strongman Matt' - has only ever seen that one ascent - definitely one of the stiffer routes put up around here...

... speaking of "crawley bit" - these guys are all over the woods this summer - been gettin' clotheslined at least every fifty feet everywhere ya' walk... always been familiar with 'em but never really paid much attention until their recent "infestation" - is some alien-looking spiney-spider aptly named the 'Spined Micrathena' (or 'Spiney Orbweaver) - said to be harmless and are "not known to bite people", but after waking up with some pretty good welts on days after untangling at least a dozen of these things off ya', we think we're gonna' disagree with that comment - pretty cool spiders, though, if ya' check out that link...

... and down by the riverside...

... 'Split Block' - high ball always done on top-rope back in the day (no pads back then)...

... 'River Rat'... north and west faces pretty much are walk-ups...

... and the steep highball west face (again, old top-rope route) and south face... may pick up a few more pads and return - might not...

... 'JB Rock'... people been crawlin' up and down (and leaping from) this thing since the late 1800's (and probably hundreds of years before that - who knows) - the sloping upper face is a bit steeper than this photo would suggest... definitely a feeling of exposure up there and sure wouldn't want to take a tumble - would be a cheese grater before free falling into the shallow, rocky shoreline... actually did witness a "slightly" inebriated (and barefoot) fellow do just that years ago - swam back across the river and continued to party the night away with a pretty bruised (hideously in our opinion) and swelling ankle - saw 'em a week or two later hobbling around with a cast on his leg...

... a forgotten short wall along the shoreline...

... an annual obligatory attempt at 'Whale Rock' while paddling through - a bit swift current this day... maybe will return for an actual serious try one of these days when conditions permit (a level of 2ft or less on the Ohiopyle river gauge - think it's around 3ft here)... maybe not...