Sawyer's 1st Upper Tier Outing

With temps in the 50s and the sun shining bright and warm among bluebird skies, we packed the Chalk family up and headed 6 miles west to Wolcott to take Sawyer to the Upper Tier for her first time. We were going to head to Monument Canyon in Grand Junction for the day for some crack climbing in the warm sun, but I checked out Wolcott early Saturday morning and being all dry and devoid of any snow, we chose the 6 mile drive one -way instead of a 150 mile drive one-way.

Sawyer taking her morning lounge on the couch

J joined us not too long after we set up shop at the base of the Bocco Area after the all-to familiar 30 minute hike. We carried Sawyer’s bouncy chair and slid it inside a collapsible, flexible mesh doggy crate Kristine had gotten for Kona years ago to provide some relief for Sawyer from the sun (and us). Despite being 7 years old, the crate is brand-spanking new. Sawyer sported her new Julbo glasses and sunhat. Sawyer has always really seemed to enjoy the fresh air and sights and sounds of the outdoors, especially this day with the gorgeous weather.

Kristine & sporty Sawyer

At the Upper Tier

Sawyer in her abode with Rainie looking in

Kristine & I took turns watching Sawyer while the other climbed with J. Sawyer even took a good hour nap. After a few 5.8+ sport routes, we climbed this fun wide trad crack called Arrow (maybe 5.7) we had walked by for years yet never climbed. Then, J and I finished on our favorite sport route Osso Bocco (5.10+/11-) at the Upper Tier. A good 5 hours outside in some gorgeous weather with all the Chalks and J.