Showing posts with label Climbing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Climbing. Show all posts

10.23.2010

Nine to Fives Ruin Lives.

A public service announcement from the folks at Skiing the Backcountry.


If you're part of the backcountry skiing community, join this  Backcountry Skiing Community.

I like Skiing the Backcountry because it's not filled with "cooler than you" bullshitters.

I contribute as WarPigSinFin.

My goal is to log 3 zillion vertical feet this winter.  Once the snow flies nothing else matters.

10.14.2010

Stash Your Cache: Building a Budget Backcountry Retreat

NEWS FLASH!

Gold is booming even more than before cuz' the FED's QE2s in the works.  The dollar is tanking.

International conflicts are escalating, and the greedy rich are planning to profit from the most costly industry of all: WAR.

American kids are being enlisted to to patrol their neighborhoods spying with camera phones to "Keep America Safe" from suspicious activity.  I think we should all join!  Get old lady Sue on tape hangin' her laundry.  "She's kinda suspicious and she speaks with a Russian accent... better get someone down here."

***

I've been wrestling with this article off and on for a few months.  I kept putting it off as I contemplated the wisdom of publishing it.

It's finally finished and has been published by the friendly folks over at CleanSnipe.  Anyone sssssshmlurking to do a little tramping about may want to give it a look.

If you're in the market for any outdoor gear, consider searching for it through CleanSnipe.  They offer a great service and give me carte blanch to spew crucial knowledge like this...

Max Edward Mogren
October 13, 2010



8.01.2010

Reflections At Blacktail Butte

Howdy.      
A friend and I went climbing at Blacktail Butte in Grand Teton National Park this morning.

The routes are very hard there, and I'm only comfortable lead climbing a few of them.  We've all got our limits, and, though its right on the side of the road, Blacktail Butte is capable of showing me mine.

The neat thing about the climbing at Blacktail Butte is that its more an exercise of
perception,
balance,
technique,
creativity,
confidence,
and fearlessness
than it is a challenge of brute strength.

Living Human. Dead Tree.
After climbing, my friend and I sat atop the crag and gazed across the valley at the majestic Teton Range.  We pointed out exceptional patches of dying trees to each other.  From the valley floor to high in the peaks, we saw RED.  We also saw a lot of trees that appeared to be turning.

Autumn has apparently arrived in this Land of Evergreens.


Traffic whizzed by loudly down on the highway and up in the sky.  I counted seven private jets descending towards the airport over the course of half an hour.  I counted two dozen opulent land yachts cruising by as well.


Over that half hour of observation, by my ballpark calculations, at least 50 million dollars worth of absurdly frivolous and conspicuous garbage passed right before my eyes.

Who Are These Fools?
What Possesses Them To Consume So Much?
Where Do They Get Their Power?
When Will They Ever Stop?
Why Can't They See Their Hypocrisy?
How Do We Show Them The Proper Way To Live?

Those are some questions that really matter.

Think about it while enjoying the Lyric of the Day from SUBLIME's Bradley Nowell. R.I.P.

Early man walked away as modern man took control.
Their minds were all the same and to conquer was their goal.
So he built his great empire and he slaughtered his own kind.
He died a confused man, killed himself with his own mind.
LET'S GO!!


We're only gonna die from our own arrogance,
that's why we might as well take our time.

6.04.2010

Greyskull Crag and Boulders, Jackson Hole

Greyskull, Upper Crag South
Jackson Hole is a climber's paradise but it has always lacked decent climbing or bouldering close to town.  Hopefully, this recent discovery changes that.

It's been a dreary spring, so the other day my buddy Bart and I planned to take advantage of a sucker hole over the Elk Refuge to squeeze in a few moderate trad routes at Curtis Canyon.  While heading down the Refuge Road we noticed the shoddy looking cliffs about a mile North of the Curtis Canyon pullout and our curiosity got the best of us...

Greyskull Prow with Tetons in the distance.
After an easy 20 minute stroll, we discovered a beautiful zone with quality limestone and no signs of previous climber activity.

Much of the rock in the vicinity is garbage but over a dozen interesting boulders and 3-4 small crags comprised of quality rock serve up everything from very easy to ridiculously hard climbing.


I returned a few days later to scramble around, take some pics and assess the feasibility of "developing" the area. Much of the climbing seems too hard for my tastes and it would be a great deal of work to develop alone.  As such, I'm sharing the discovery in hopes that folks get jazzed to explore and climb the area themselves.  I'm referring the place as "GreySkull" because there are numerous weathered Elk skeletons in the area... and because the rock somehow reminds me of Castle Greyskull from the old He-Man cartoons.



There are many "first!?" ascents to be had: boulder, sport, and trad.  Bring typical cleaning tools and a strong work ethic to guarantee you'll get to attempt whatever catches your eye.  Since it has yet to be developed, watch out for loose rock and sketchy landings.
Main Lower Crag: Mostly Crap Rock...
Much of the rock in the vicinity is crap but don’t be deterred.  The high quality rock is hiding in and around the woods above the biggest crag.  It’s about a half hour bike ride (10 minute drive) and 20 minute walk from Downtown Jackson.  Bring multiple pads for maximum fun and safety.  Again, watch out for loose rock… it’d be a long mile back to the bike/car with a broken ankle.

Though it's less than a mile from the road, the area is close to the perimeter of the National Elk Refuge and sees little human traffic.  During the two trips I've made there, I've seen Elk, Deer, a Coyote, Red Tail Hawks, Mountain Goats, Marmots, and countless signs of wildlife.  There are nests and burrows throughout the crags and if the place is abused, all that wildlife will disappear pretty quickly.  Though dogs are allowed, maybe it's a better idea to leave them at home.  Obviously a low-key presence and respecting nesting sites is a good idea as well.

Getting There: 
  • DO NOT WALK THROUGH THE  NATIONAL ELK REFUGE.
  • Park your bike/car (it's only ~6 miles from Downtown Jackson) at the Curtis Canyon pullout just before the road turns and begins ascending into the Gros Ventre.
  • Follow the main trail that soon crosses the creekbed like you're headed to the Curtis Canyon Crag.
  • Veer left about 100 yards before you reach the Curtis Canyon Crag and ascend the short ridge to a faint game trail along the hillside.  You'll be walking pretty much straight North.
  • Follow the faint game trail until you find a spot good for descending back to the flats OUTSIDE the National Elk Refuge Boundary.  Continue ~0.5 mile North towards the biggest crag.  You'll find one short wall offering a few high quality cracks on that crag, but most of the rock is crap.
  • Scramble around the biggest lower crag and explore ~20 boulders and small crags of high quality scattered in the woods just above it.
  • DO NOT WALK THROUGH THE  NATIONAL ELK REFUGE.
Here's a little eye candy to whet your appetite for exploration...
Short but Sweet Overhanging Offwidth On the Biggest Lower Crag
Another View of that Offwidth and Other Good Cracks Nearby
Really Good Rock Above the Lower Crag

Ditto.
Blocky Fun Overhanging Boulder... Needs A Little Cleaning Up Top.

Sparse, Clean, Overhanging Faces Like This Are All Over The Place.
GreySkull Prow Boulder... Note Hypocritically Placed Dog For Scale.
For more pictures, check out the article here...