I Almost Died | chossclimbers.com

Go back to Smith Rock page.

Summary

Shirley dancing in the rain on first pitch of Peking (5.8) on the Red Wall (Jan. 2006).

In January of 2006, Shirley & I spent a short day in Smith. We started off on Peking. As Shirley was taping up for her lead of the first pitch splitter, dark clouds were already gathering but undeterred she started up the line and was soon leading in full on rain. Spot on! She reached the first set of anchors and rapped off cleaning her own gear (daddy should harden the fuck up!). As the rain subsided, we hiked up to the Red Ryder Buttress (part of the way up Misery Ridge Trail) and got on the classic Jeff Thomas line called I Almost Died (5.11a). Despite the best intentions, things did not go cleanly. Called it a day after that as the shitty weather returned.

Photos

Shirley starting up Peking (5.8) on the Red Wall in sub-ideal conditions (Jan. 2006).

Shirley hurrying it up on Peking's first pitch as the weather is becoming a bit moist (Jan. 2006).

Shirley dancing in the rain on first pitch of Peking (5.8) on the Red Wall (Jan. 2006).

Shirley atop the first pitch (well, actually the first set of anchors 2/3rds of the way up the first pitch ) of Peking (Jan. 2006).

Shirley looking forward to cleaning her lead of Peking as daddy was too upset to follow in the rain (Jan. 2006).

Leading I Almost Died (5.11a) - a Jeff Thomas classic trad line on the Red Ryder Buttress (Jan. 2006).

Shirley and Blondie at the base of I Almost Died (5.11a) on the Red Ryder Buttress (Jan. 2006).

Shirley starting up I Almost Died (5.11a) on Red Ryder Buttress (Jan. 2006).

Go back to Smith Rock page.