Eldo Climbfest

Rusty, Chris and I attacked the Eldorado canyon this last weekend with gusto and style. Our drive to CO was satisfied with 5 dollar foot longs from subway, rain and sleet, and some baked meatballs I made the previous night. We unfortunately lost Jesse to work and car repairs moments before our group was scheduled to leave to lands of higher altitude. We were fortunate enough to stay with Rusty's good friend Paul in Louisville where he treated us like Kings. Saturday awoke to pretty chilling temps and nipple searing wind. 

We boomed down to Eldo and started in the sun on C'est la Vie. I led P1, plugging gear and freaking out the entire time. The crux on P2 was not gonna put out easily and spit Chris off before he finally sent it. Rusty and I both gave it a few goes, but opted to pull thru and move on. 

Marching up the long trail to Yellow Spur. 

We can see a team of two on P2 but figure they will be well ahead of we three by the time we get climbing. All three of us reach the top of P2 before their follower even starts P3. Not good. After much cussing and cold ankles, we reach the top of P3 and then traverse right and bail of The Great Zot. We watch the gumbies fumble around as we descend the trail. Bailing was a good call.

We wrap up the day playing on P1 of Genesis. Chris all but floats it, and Rusty does as well. I push thru the small overhang and the first face move smacks me down like the smell of a week old salmon left on top of a fridge and I end up working the move for 30 frustrating minutes. Climbing up, no being able to pull the move, climbing back down to a good rest. F#ck ass shovel cock naked gardener rash!!! This move is giving me hell. I eventually finish it with ease and rap off to end the day. If my arms would not have been so pumped, I would have spent some extra time punching myself in the face for awhile. 

The Nebraskans finished up the day with beer, crackers, cheese and smoked salmon. Then we had dinner consisting of blue fish, and most importantly, more beer. I find out later that I missed the best party in Golden over at Arnold and Adam's pad.

I get the great Adam Peters on the horn in the morning and meet him in the Eldo parking lot. He looks like he is either ready to go clubbin' or climbing with his coffee, rolled smokes, plaid golfing hat and baby blue v-neck t-shirt. If that isn't a reason to want to tie in with this guy, I don't know what would be. We hump up to Red Garden Wall, rack up for the day and head up the sketchy 90 foot? ramp to where the pitches start. Chris, Paul and Rusty eat up Rosy Crucifiction and me and Adam plow up Super Slab. At the top of P1, Adam and I find out that we are putting on a total f#ck show for the day. We don't have any runners, no cordlette for anchors, no lockers, and a few more cams wouldn't be bad either. We only laugh it off and push on. After some hiccups, and Adam's 17 minute and 27 second deciphering of the crux (He was probably just up there texting people- Hey peeps, wut r u up 2? I b crimpin slab action!) we get to the top and share ropes with another couple of dudes on our rap down. Adam adds the finale to our show by kicking his shoe off while he is rappelling. I watch it sail by like a piece of key lime pie. Luckily, I came prepared for this show with another pair of shoes on my harness. Why? I don't know.

Clambering down, Adam finds his shoe and get back to where we dropped our packs. We find Chris there napping in the sun and we all chat about our day. Chris also had time to jump on P1 of The Naked Edge and was still school girl giddy about it. 

We load into Adam's rig and cruise to Louisville. Hanging in Paul's driveway we eat home made meat balls I brought and swill a few beers. An amazing end to a really good day. We say our good byes and load in for the trip back to Omaha. The afternoon sun is on my skin and reminds me how nice the spring time can be, and that I got fried today while climbing. Little do I know, in 6 hours I will be doing jumping jacks above the interstate and hitching rides from Judy, the husband throwing, U-Haul driver. Abandoned like a new born baby girl in China. Unbelievable.