CLIMBING
A friend got me interested in this after my college years and I hope to continue to climb on into old age. Rock climbing is all about the mental and physical challenge of "beating your best". I'm still a newbie, first tried it indoors sometime in 2001. Most of my climber friends have families too, so we take safety very seriously. I firmly believe we are in more danger driving to the climbing area then we are on the rock!! I get outdoors to climb 2-4 times a year but mainly mess around indoors and on doors in the meantime.
Places I've been lucky enough to climb
(click on the thumbs to see the full size picture, the link is to an area description in www.rockclimbing.com database)
Wild Iowa, Monticello Iowa
Limestone!! Wild Iowa is the main place to go locally for good limestone sport routes. I've been there about 4 times so far and this was my first outdoor climbing spot. There is a whole other area across the river that we've still never tried.
http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/listArea.php?AreaID=393
Drapers Bluffs, Southern Illinois
Sandstone!! Drapers Bluff is in a very awesome area of Southern Illinois that in general has some of the best sanstone bouldering in the midwest (some say the US). Drapers specifically is privately owned by a climber who allows climbing there - how cool is that?!?! I've been there once with a couple of college buddies, Matt and Casey. What a fun trip, lead my first trad route and did my first mutipitch (also all trad) with 3 other climbers, topping out at around 100' to overlook a huge valley. Really neat trip, can't wait to return.
http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/listArea.php?AreaID=407
Near Vail, Colorado (Gilman Canyon?)
Granite!! This area was discovered on a Mary Kay retreat in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Lance, Tony, Brian and I headed out and found tons of really challenging (lowest was 5.9 if I remember) sport climbs. Nearly spent all the energy I had on the first route, the third thumb above which started with a crux getting over a large overhang with a bad fall below and not much protection until you get over the lip. Fun trip, high altitude, and beautiful scenery made this a trip to remember!
http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/listArea.php?AreaID=4730
Palisades Park, South Dakota
Pink Quartzite!!! This trip was set up by a friend in South Dakota who climbs here all the time. It is really a gem of a park that I can't wait to go back to, if even just to camp. This trip made me realize how much I need to explore South Dakota. Tony, Neal, and his son climbed all day, then took a swim in the river. Pretty challenging sport routes with so many routes we had to leave unclimbed (for now!).
