For Kristine’s birthday, the Chalks visited the wonderful Tennessee Pass Cookhouse at Ski Cooper again but it was our first time with Sawyer. Its always a plus to go on a nice, sunny day for the views and so the dogs can hang outside the yurt while we dine inside. We have always gone for lunches at the Cookhouse for the views, but I hear the dinners are awesome as well albeit more pricey. Reservations are required for either lunch or dinner. More info on the Cookhouse can be found here. Sawyer did great on the brief mile walk to the yurt at about 10,800′ and she had a ball inside always scoping out the scene and her surroundings. It was a nice afternoon.
Me & Sawyer on the Cookhouse’s front deck
Homestake Peak (13,209′) across the valley which we climbed and skied almost exactly a year go. Kristine was pregnant with Sawyer at the time, though we didn’t know it yet
Taking in the scene
Love the big wood stove inside the yurt behind us
Sawyer observing her surroundings
Mom & daughter
We think Sawyer is figuring out what her hands and fists are and that maybe they are hers? 🙂
On the Cookhouse deck after lunch
Mt. Elbert from the Cookhouse
The Tennessee Pass Cookhouse
Back at home relaxing on the couch
And, with that, I got to throw a few climbing pics in here. Last week I received an email from my buddy Ryan Masters to join he and his girlfriend Stephanie in Grand Junction for some warm crack climbing. I mean “you had me at hello!”. So, I drove down to Colorado National Monument for the day on Sunday and had a wonderful time in the warm high desert sun on the awesome sandstone with Ryan & Stephanie. Was great to see Ryan again and catch up on all things mountain-related.
Ryan leading Dihedral 1 – Left Dihedral (5.8+), an awesome 90′ crack route
Ryan at the crux almost to the anchors. There is a second pitch to this route which goes at 5.12 or so
Me leading Luhr’s Route – Right Dihedral (5.9), a 120′ really fun mixed route involving some technical face climbing past 3 bolts into an awesome arcing dihedral. Photo by Ryan
Stephanie in the dihedral of Luhr’s Route
I then led this rather slabby, tough, and runout sport climb next to Luhr’s Route called Circle, Square, & the Triangle (5.10a). Ryan then led it after me and did an awesome job as seen here. I believe its much easier & safer for taller climbers (in terms of clipping the bolts)
Ryan higher on Circle, Square, & the Triangle
Me leading the pretty cool 120′ dihedral called Wide Load (5.10a). Photo by Ryan
Me in the off-width portion of Wide Load, which I climbed much better than my last 5.10a off-width at Tiara Rado. Photo by Ryan
Stephanie at the crux of Wide Load – an overhanging hand jam into insecure finger jams
Me leading our 5th and final route of the day called Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire (5.9). This was a very stiff 5.9 in our opinion and I’ve heard the face climbing at the bolts is more like 5.10. Photo by Ryan
Ryan climbing the initial fun 30′ of arcing finger crack before the face climbing on Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire
Beautiful Monument Canyon. It was a nice day
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Look at the happy family! Happy Birthday Kristine. I miss your faces and the outdoors. Looks like a fine couple of outings, Chalk. Hope you are enjoying all the new snow! SPRING IS COMING!
Thanks, Dillon. We miss your face, buddy. Hopefully, soon enough! Yes, stoked for Spring!