August 20th, 21st, 2019
August 20th,
Today was my first multi-pitch, yay! Woke up around 8 and met up with Jeremy to head to Cold Creek Canyon to do Playing Hookie, a short and sweet 5.8 4 pitch multi-pitch. We headed west towards Golden in my truck and made it to the parking lot at ~10:00. It was looking to be another scorching day.
We crossed the highway and made the approach along the side of Cold Creek for about 10 minutes to the base of the climb and found two groups of climbers in line ahead of us. The first group was just starting and while we put our gear down and looked around another two groups arrived! It was shaping up to be a very busy day. While we waited for our turn we decided to do a 5.9 immediately adjacent to warmup and I hopped on lead. It was a very long route that had me scratching my head at the top looking for the anchors. When I found them and was lowered my 70m rope barely made it to the ground and I had to untie on a small ledge just off the ground to get down. Good thing we tied a stopper knot.
Jeremy hopped on and did the route no probem and by the time he got down our turn was up. We waited for the group head of us to depart from the first belay ledge and Jeremy lead the first pitch while I belayed him. After he made it up and set up the anchor I put on my backpack and went up. The climbing wasn't difficult so I wasn't nervous about that but I was nervous about belaying from above as I had no experience in that regards. When I made it to the first ledge Jeremy showed me how to set up the anchor at the next belay ledge and gave me his Grigri to belay. We went over a system of tugs to indicate on belay, off belay etc. and I lead the second pitch.
I lead the pitch thinking more about the anchor and belay then the moves and found myself at the next belay ledge in short order. The group before us was nowhere in sight so I guess we were going slow and I quickly set up the anchor and belay. I double checked everything and gave Jeremy the agreed upon tugs to indicate he was on belay and pulled in slack as he climbed. It felt like a long time but soon he was up. He joked at the ledge that he wasn't sure if he was on belay at all and he was free soloing the route.
The next pitch Jeremy lead was a short 15m section and we could see each other so I followe quickly. We waited on the last belay ledge as the two parties ahead of us rappelled from the top. They stopped at a rappel ledge slightly above us to make another rappel (which I later learned was put there for 60m ropes) and after about 15 minute I was good to lead the last pitch.
Once at the top we took in the views and had some water. I was a bit nervous about the rappel because I don't have a ton of experience and I felt very high up. We also didn't use Prusiks or any backup but it turned out fine and we descended in short order. When we got to the bottom we bushwacked back to the truck and drove to a small bend in the highway that gave us access to the Cold Creek. We took a dip and I took the opportunity to wash some dirt off myself.
Driving back to Denver we stopped in Golden for some food and I decided to cross another US fast food place off my list, Sonics. I ordered a double bacon cheeseburger and a mini milkshake which was a whopping 1720 calories! Damn! We could barely move after the meal but went to REI and returned my shoes then back to the hostel. I said my goodbyes to Jeremy as we doubt we'd see each other again. I was heading back to Canada and he would shortly be off for an adventure in Spain. Best of luck Jeremy and if our roads cross again we'll have to go climbing again! Thanks for the help!
It was only 6 but it was very hot in Denver, I was tired and didn't have anything on the agenda. I decided to drive to the Mt. Bierstadt trailhead where I planned on camping for the evening and hiking in the morning before making the 8 hour drive to Salt Lake City for the first leg of my return trip. I drove out and found myself nearly alone at the top however as the night wore on more people arrived.
I was treated to an eerie and lonely lighting and thunderstorm at nearly 12000 feet that was amazing and a little frightening before drifting off to sleep.
August 21st,
Awaking at 7 I decided against hiking Mt. Bierstadt as I was feeling tired and not really up to it. Instead I had breakfast and headed to Salt Lake. I drove pretty much straight there for 9 hours stopping once in Vail to perform abolutions and once in Grand Junction for lunch and gas.
Once in SLC I ate dinner and headed to Temple Square in downtown to check out the Mormon Church. I got to the square at spent the next two and a half hours exploring the area. I really enjoyed my visit and admired the craftsmanship and artistry on display. I felt like a fish out of water being slightly disheveled and wearing a t-shirt, hiking pants and ball cap while the Mormons wore church attire but I was properly attired for the typical tourist there.
The church members were all very pleasant and I was quite surprised I found it one of the highlights of my trip. Finally at 9:30 I drove to the local Walmart parking lot and headed to bed.
Today was my first multi-pitch, yay! Woke up around 8 and met up with Jeremy to head to Cold Creek Canyon to do Playing Hookie, a short and sweet 5.8 4 pitch multi-pitch. We headed west towards Golden in my truck and made it to the parking lot at ~10:00. It was looking to be another scorching day.
We crossed the highway and made the approach along the side of Cold Creek for about 10 minutes to the base of the climb and found two groups of climbers in line ahead of us. The first group was just starting and while we put our gear down and looked around another two groups arrived! It was shaping up to be a very busy day. While we waited for our turn we decided to do a 5.9 immediately adjacent to warmup and I hopped on lead. It was a very long route that had me scratching my head at the top looking for the anchors. When I found them and was lowered my 70m rope barely made it to the ground and I had to untie on a small ledge just off the ground to get down. Good thing we tied a stopper knot.
Jeremy hopped on and did the route no probem and by the time he got down our turn was up. We waited for the group head of us to depart from the first belay ledge and Jeremy lead the first pitch while I belayed him. After he made it up and set up the anchor I put on my backpack and went up. The climbing wasn't difficult so I wasn't nervous about that but I was nervous about belaying from above as I had no experience in that regards. When I made it to the first ledge Jeremy showed me how to set up the anchor at the next belay ledge and gave me his Grigri to belay. We went over a system of tugs to indicate on belay, off belay etc. and I lead the second pitch.
I lead the pitch thinking more about the anchor and belay then the moves and found myself at the next belay ledge in short order. The group before us was nowhere in sight so I guess we were going slow and I quickly set up the anchor and belay. I double checked everything and gave Jeremy the agreed upon tugs to indicate he was on belay and pulled in slack as he climbed. It felt like a long time but soon he was up. He joked at the ledge that he wasn't sure if he was on belay at all and he was free soloing the route.
The next pitch Jeremy lead was a short 15m section and we could see each other so I followe quickly. We waited on the last belay ledge as the two parties ahead of us rappelled from the top. They stopped at a rappel ledge slightly above us to make another rappel (which I later learned was put there for 60m ropes) and after about 15 minute I was good to lead the last pitch.
Once at the top we took in the views and had some water. I was a bit nervous about the rappel because I don't have a ton of experience and I felt very high up. We also didn't use Prusiks or any backup but it turned out fine and we descended in short order. When we got to the bottom we bushwacked back to the truck and drove to a small bend in the highway that gave us access to the Cold Creek. We took a dip and I took the opportunity to wash some dirt off myself.
Driving back to Denver we stopped in Golden for some food and I decided to cross another US fast food place off my list, Sonics. I ordered a double bacon cheeseburger and a mini milkshake which was a whopping 1720 calories! Damn! We could barely move after the meal but went to REI and returned my shoes then back to the hostel. I said my goodbyes to Jeremy as we doubt we'd see each other again. I was heading back to Canada and he would shortly be off for an adventure in Spain. Best of luck Jeremy and if our roads cross again we'll have to go climbing again! Thanks for the help!
It was only 6 but it was very hot in Denver, I was tired and didn't have anything on the agenda. I decided to drive to the Mt. Bierstadt trailhead where I planned on camping for the evening and hiking in the morning before making the 8 hour drive to Salt Lake City for the first leg of my return trip. I drove out and found myself nearly alone at the top however as the night wore on more people arrived.
I was treated to an eerie and lonely lighting and thunderstorm at nearly 12000 feet that was amazing and a little frightening before drifting off to sleep.
August 21st,
Awaking at 7 I decided against hiking Mt. Bierstadt as I was feeling tired and not really up to it. Instead I had breakfast and headed to Salt Lake. I drove pretty much straight there for 9 hours stopping once in Vail to perform abolutions and once in Grand Junction for lunch and gas.
Once in SLC I ate dinner and headed to Temple Square in downtown to check out the Mormon Church. I got to the square at spent the next two and a half hours exploring the area. I really enjoyed my visit and admired the craftsmanship and artistry on display. I felt like a fish out of water being slightly disheveled and wearing a t-shirt, hiking pants and ball cap while the Mormons wore church attire but I was properly attired for the typical tourist there.
The church members were all very pleasant and I was quite surprised I found it one of the highlights of my trip. Finally at 9:30 I drove to the local Walmart parking lot and headed to bed.
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| Jeremy and I chilling at the top of the multi-pitch |
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| View of the highway from the top |
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| Jeremy posing for a picture as he rappels |
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| Sunset at Mt. Bierstadt |
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| LDS Church visitor center |
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| Jesus? |
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| Beautiful artwork all over the place |
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| The famous temple |
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| Mormon administrative center that looked pretty imposing |
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