Go back to Smith Rock page.
Summary
![Lower Gorge Lower Gorge](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5284-300x225.jpg)
Blondie, Shirley, and Tom crossing the Crooked River in the Lower Gorge on the way out after a nice half day of climbing in spring-like conditions (Feb. 2012).
During my brother’s quick visit to Oregon, we took the lad down to the Lower Gorge at Smith for a half day of basalt clambering. It would’ve been a full day had we not started things off with a big breakfast in Redmond…Shirley led (once again) the decent
Patent Leather Pump (5.9) and Tom followed w/o too much difficulty. Seeing as he did not have a proper amount of respect for Gorge 5.9s, we then hopped over the river to the east side where we did the
uber-classic
Blitzkrieg…”not so easy this one, eh Tom?” Not easy indeed especially compared with the next door
Off Tempo line. After a couple more laps, we called it a day.
Photos
![Lower Gorge Lower Gorge](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5152-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley & Tom hiking into the Lower Gorge on a gorgeous mid February day (2012).
![Patent Leather Pump Patent Leather Pump](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5163-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley starting up Patent Leather Pump (5.10a in first ed. guidebook...but demoted to 5.9 in 2nd ed) in the Lower Gorge (Feb. 2012).
![Patent Leather Pump Patent Leather Pump](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5176-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley leading the nice Patent Leather Pump route in the Lower Gorge (Feb. 2012).
![Patent Leather Pump Patent Leather Pump](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5192-1024x768.jpg)
Tom following Patent Leather Pump (5.9/5.10a) in the Lower Gorge...getting the feel for the basalt column climbing for the first time in his life (Feb. 2012).
![Lower Gorge Lower Gorge](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5198-1024x721.jpg)
Blondie airborne over the Crooked River in the Lower Gorge (Feb. 2012).
![Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5211-768x1024.jpg)
The money section of Blitzkrieg (5.9 OW) starts just above me. A lovely day in the Lower Gorge (Feb. 2012).
![Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5213-1024x768.jpg)
Leading into the crux of Blitzkrieg...hard 5.9 off-width at least for me...much harder than the Off-Tempo (5.10a) next door (Feb. 2012).
![Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5233-1024x768.jpg)
Tom admires the business upper half of Blitzkrieg (Feb. 2012).
![Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5267-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley seconding Blitzkrieg (5.9) wideness with The Monument in the background (Feb. 2012).
![Lower Gorge Lower Gorge](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5284-1024x768.jpg)
Blondie, Shirley, and Tom crossing the Crooked River in the Lower Gorge on the way out after a nice half day of climbing in spring-like conditions (Feb. 2012).
Go back to
Smith Rock page.