Aug 30, 2009

Big Game Area, End of the Season

I have spent the last 2 days at "Big Game", and it is looking unbelievably rad. It is no Hueco Tanks, but it is awesome for being within 30 minutes of my house. The first day was a work day, i.e. scouting the best walls and building landings. At the end of the day I snuck in some climbing on a striking line on "Trophy Wall".

"That is a Good Looking Mount"
Project

On the second day, I was joined by a Lauren, a coworker from the climbing gym, for bag limit amount of FAs. We start the day at "Season Opener Cave", repeating the lines and solidifying the grades. I put another line:


We quickly moved to "Small Game Wall." Originally I named it "Small Game Wall" as a poke at boulders. There is some good (but hidden) sport climbing potential, and this is just a small cave. The name is now ironic because the wall is mostly highballs.

Top Rope Inspection,
just like the pros do

The right most line, pictured above, is "Chubby Bunny" V1. Lauren stepped up and got the FA. I had to settle for the FMA (First Male Ascent). The next line to the left is "Frightened Rabbit" V5. It was starts on large jug to dynamic moves on sloping loafs.


"Frightened Rabbit"
V5/Project

The next line to the right is SDS on a jug then follows a crack feature to a throw to a sloping ledge.


"Wicked Wabbit"
V7/Project

Full disclosure: I did feel comfortable enough to top out the last two lines.

Next, we went over to the steep "Who's Hunting Who Wall" and both flashed a steep fun line on the right. While I was investigating an alternative descent after I sent the middle line, I spooked the biggest rattlesnake I have ever seen. Even though Lauren didn't see it, the rattle was loud enough to scare her from climbing there anymore.

"Who's Hunting Who Wall"
right to left
Unnamed, V2 - SDS, fun climbing to awkward exit
Unnamed, V3 - lie back fins
"Tommy Lee's Rattle", Project - SDS, climb arete

We finished the day at "Trophy Wall", 300+ft. mostly continuous wall. It starts in a potential sport climbing cave. The next 100ft section is easy bouldering. Followed by 100ft section over the river. Then another small potential sport climbing cave. It is end capped with "That is a Good Looking Mount" Project. We just traversed the 100ft section of easy bouldering.

"Manny Feet Traverse", V2
(Not a typo but a bad pun)



Unfortunately, that is the end of the season for "Big Game". It lies on public land which is closed to the public (other than hunting and fishing) from September 1 to May 1.