Escaping the Heat

It definitely wasn't the last weekend of summer last weekend. Saturday and Sunday were hot in Olympia, it was one of those weekends where I really felt glad to be living where I am, especial when I talk to my folks about the weather back back home. On Saturday Steve and I got out climbing at Amazonia at Exit 38. It is one of the coolest (literally) places to climb in the area. It was completely shaded and in great condition. I finished the last routes I had left to do at that crag. Some of which were great (the 10d on the far left) and some not so great (the 10d on the far right). We also climbed Giant one of my all time favorites routes at the Actual Cave.

On Sunday I headed out to Lake Cushman with a few others from Olympia. In all my time in Olympia I had never made the 1 hour drive out to Lake Cushman, and now I really regret it. I can't think of a better place to go to escape the heat in Olympia. There is even some climbing there, its not great, but the swimming and sunbathing defiantly makes it worth the trip. Unfortunately the weather this weekend doesn't look as promising, but if its dry I plan on getting out somewhere.


Justin at Lake Cushman



Not the best climbing, but worth bringing a rope for.

Last Summer Weekend

It certainly doesn't feel like summer is on its way out right now. But last weekend was my last before I started teaching full-time this week. I'm enjoying teaching a lot, and hopefully it wont stop me from getting out climbing a lot. If you want to follow what I'm doing in class check out my teaching blog. It was a great weekend in Mazama with Steve and Austin. We climbed at Gate Creek, chilled by the river and did the classic 11-pitch 5.9 up Goat Wall called Prime Rib. Here are some photos.

Austin gives Steve a good belay on the bouldery start to a new route at Gate Creek, (11dish?)

Typical Steve pose 3 pitches up Prime Rib

Austin gets good practice managing ropes, while Steve follows up pitch 5?

The Awesome long 6th? pitch 5.8

Austin seconding, Steve thirding

Me leading up Pitch 11, the hardest at 5.9 (but still pretty easy)

We did it in almost exactly 10 hours car to car. And when we got back a friendly local rewarded us with a cold can of Rainier, it never tasted so good. Perhaps I should have worn more sunscreen, oops!