Day 2:
The first morning of the IMF proved frustrating. I woke up to the sound of rain/snow bouncing off the rain fly of my tent, and when I poked my head out to survey the weather I noticed a ring of ice and slush around the tent. Thankfully Ben Eaton the event organizer already had hot coffee going for us early risers.
The morning snow was disheartening but Travis' optimism kept me excited for the rest of the day. We made plans to run up a three pitch sport climb called Zinger. After a 10am clinic about mental preparedness we met up with Travis' friends Morgan, Kim and Felix to organize gear and demo some new gear. Multiple sponsors make the IMF possible each year, and some significant companies showed up to show off at the event. I demoed a Singing Rock harness and the famed La Sportiva Miura climbing shoe.
With our gear arranged the five of us made the hike to Castle Rock and an area known as Hostess Gully and Travis and I got on the route Zinger. Zinger is a three-pitch 5.8 climb that affords great views of the meadow once the climber reaches the 3rd anchor station. The route proved to be an exercise in optimism and focus as both Travis and I had to pause multiple times to warm our numb hands. My toes went numb sometime during the second pitch, and I was grateful that I was only climbing 5.8, and that I had a competent leader (Travis teaches climbing clinics at BSU). We had handwarmers in our chalk bags and would alternate dipping each hand into the bag to try and warm our digits.
At the second anchor we quickly chose to finish the route since there was little fear of mortal danger. If the leader, Travis, fell he was well protected by the bolts and realistically we could always just haul up the route if things got too cold. I'm glad that we did finish the route since it meant I had completed my first multi-pitch climb, and we got some great views of the meadow.
The first morning of the IMF proved frustrating. I woke up to the sound of rain/snow bouncing off the rain fly of my tent, and when I poked my head out to survey the weather I noticed a ring of ice and slush around the tent. Thankfully Ben Eaton the event organizer already had hot coffee going for us early risers.
The morning snow was disheartening but Travis' optimism kept me excited for the rest of the day. We made plans to run up a three pitch sport climb called Zinger. After a 10am clinic about mental preparedness we met up with Travis' friends Morgan, Kim and Felix to organize gear and demo some new gear. Multiple sponsors make the IMF possible each year, and some significant companies showed up to show off at the event. I demoed a Singing Rock harness and the famed La Sportiva Miura climbing shoe.
With our gear arranged the five of us made the hike to Castle Rock and an area known as Hostess Gully and Travis and I got on the route Zinger. Zinger is a three-pitch 5.8 climb that affords great views of the meadow once the climber reaches the 3rd anchor station. The route proved to be an exercise in optimism and focus as both Travis and I had to pause multiple times to warm our numb hands. My toes went numb sometime during the second pitch, and I was grateful that I was only climbing 5.8, and that I had a competent leader (Travis teaches climbing clinics at BSU). We had handwarmers in our chalk bags and would alternate dipping each hand into the bag to try and warm our digits.
Rapping off of Zinger with no feelings in my extremities. Good decision...
At the second anchor we quickly chose to finish the route since there was little fear of mortal danger. If the leader, Travis, fell he was well protected by the bolts and realistically we could always just haul up the route if things got too cold. I'm glad that we did finish the route since it meant I had completed my first multi-pitch climb, and we got some great views of the meadow.
After spending the majority of the day being cold I opted to travel to the hot springs after dinner with Thomas and Mikey from Asana. In the process we lost track of the woman who would drive us down there and wound up hitchhiking to the hot springs from the parking lot of the tent city. The hot spring itself felt wonderful, and most of the IMF participants were there, including Jonathan Siegrist! If you are unfamiliar with Siegrist, he is a high-level climber who established several new routes of grade 5.14 or harder (2 of which are in Idaho!). Meeting him was like bumping elbows with climbing royalty. I chatted Jon up a bit before rounding up Travis and Mikey and leaving.
Once again our ride flaked on us and we found ourselves hitchhiking from the hot springs parking lot. This arrangement worked out well for Mikey and I as we were able to find accommodations with people we already knew. But Mikey wound up riding with a man who looked like the blond, nerdy Fabio and a woman I can only describe as a serial hugger. Upon returning to tent city Mikey informed us that his ride back had been interesting, and that he was sure the two were crazy.
Once again our ride flaked on us and we found ourselves hitchhiking from the hot springs parking lot. This arrangement worked out well for Mikey and I as we were able to find accommodations with people we already knew. But Mikey wound up riding with a man who looked like the blond, nerdy Fabio and a woman I can only describe as a serial hugger. Upon returning to tent city Mikey informed us that his ride back had been interesting, and that he was sure the two were crazy.
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