Sugarloaf climbing
February 1, 2009 - Peter, Karén
March 14, 2009 - Peter, Julien, Drew & Roo
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February 1, 2009: Apparently there was some famous American football game (Super plus something about bowling?) so we almost had the place to ourselves! And nearly no traffic on the way back :) Yay, there should be more of these games, how about one every weekend to keep people glued to their TVs?

First Karén let me do The Fang which he had already done. There are some very tricky moves, some of the toughest for 5.9 that I've done... but maybe it was just me? I got stuck in the little chimney after that too, full value. Then we toproped some 5.10d fingertip crack + face which was quite nice. Afterwards we went to The Fracture (5.10d) and looked at it, but didn't collect the courage to try it. Instead we did a 5.10a around the corner, and rappelled down to toprope The Fracture. It isn't actually that hard except for a small section (a couple of moves) with no feet... yikes, kicked our butts. Oh yeah, and we stared at Grand Illusion, which was the hardest climb in the world when put up (5.13c). Amazingly, according to the guidebook, it has only been done once free without pre-placed gear. It must be that hard.

Overall, nice winter crag - now that I have seen it, I'll have to go back! On a less windy day, it'll be nice to climb to the top.

March 14, 2009: came back! Julien's first climbing trip in California, and on granite - he liked it, I think. Drew also hadn't climbed in CA yet. :)

  Karen below a fierce-looking 5.10b offwidth  
  Karen below a fierce-looking 5.10b offwidth

  Arranging some protection before the out-of-nowhere crux Launched up the crux Above the crux  
  Arranging some protection before the out-of-nowhere crux Launched up the crux Above the crux

  Getting in the chimney Above the short chimney/OW (second crux for me) Amazing 5.9 lieback/jamming. Girl toproping 5.11d thin face on the right.  
  Getting in the chimney Above the short chimney/OW (second crux for me) Amazing 5.9 lieback/jamming. Girl toproping 5.11d thin face on the right.

  Just beautiful... Karen psyching himself Making short work of it  
  Just beautiful... Karen psyching himself Making short work of it

  The Fracture: amazing 5.10d fingers Another shot of The Fracture  
  The Fracture: amazing 5.10d fingers Another shot of The Fracture

  Starting up the next climb, 5.10a (wide hands to fingers corner) Searching for gear  
  Starting up the next climb, 5.10a (wide hands to fingers corner) Searching for gear

  Right above the crux Karen looking up at the crux  
  Right above the crux Karen looking up at the crux

  Grand Illusions: the first 5.13c trad climb in the world? Only free'd once without pre-placed gear, according to the book. Average angle of 135 degrees! The picture does not convey the steepness at all. The camera is pointed almost straight up to the sky... Rappelling diagonally is hard :)  
  Grand Illusions: the first 5.13c trad climb in the world? Only free'd once without pre-placed gear, according to the book. Average angle of 135 degrees! The picture does not convey the steepness at all. The camera is pointed almost straight up to the sky... Rappelling diagonally is hard :)

  Grand Illusions, average angle of 135 degrees! The start of the 5.10a crack is on the left View from Sugarloaf towards Lake Tahoe - doesn't look like winter..  
  Grand Illusions, average angle of 135 degrees! The start of the 5.10a crack is on the left View from Sugarloaf towards Lake Tahoe - doesn't look like winter..

  Toprope on The Fracture (5.10d) Starting up Farley (5.9), photo by Drew On top of Farley, with Julien belaying  
  Toprope on The Fracture (5.10d) Starting up Farley (5.9), photo by Drew On top of Farley, with Julien belaying

  Julien tying in, psyched to climb Julien, the crack master Julien laybacking Farley  
  Julien tying in, psyched to climb Julien, the crack master Julien laybacking Farley

  Working the few footholds :) Starting up The Fracture (5.10d), some bouldery moves  
  Working the few footholds :) Starting up The Fracture (5.10d), some bouldery moves

  Starting up The Fracture, photo by Julien Arranging some protection before continuing up  
  Starting up The Fracture, photo by Julien Arranging some protection before continuing up

  Psyching myself for the crux, photo by Julien At the crux of The Fracture, 5.10d  
  Psyching myself for the crux, photo by Julien At the crux of The Fracture, 5.10d

  Fell off... oh well! Made it past the crux on 2nd try! Roo was trying to keep warm once we went away from the sun :)  
  Fell off... oh well! Made it past the crux on 2nd try! Roo was trying to keep warm once we went away from the sun :)

  Drew starting up The Fracture Julien appears happy to be here Drew on the bouldery start of The Fracture  
  Drew starting up The Fracture Julien appears happy to be here Drew on the bouldery start of The Fracture

  Drew higher up The Fracture Hiking down from Sugarloaf, on the way to Sugarbun  
  Drew higher up The Fracture Hiking down from Sugarloaf, on the way to Sugarbun

  Headlamp climbing Julien getting a late start at Fingerlock (5.10b)  
  Headlamp climbing Julien getting a late start at Fingerlock (5.10b)

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