Tried the Third Flatironette today, and sorta bailed. The lowest part of the ridge is smooth, so I tried the start below instead, which is uphill to the right.
This is the smooth foot of the ridge below. But I just didn't feel "on" and like I could take on friction climbing on mossy, lichen and pine-needle covered rock. This is usually the 3rd or 4th climb I do in my usual loop, so maybe this is not a good warmup rock.
It was cool out and I felt pretty good, so I did a fast lap on the Second Flatiron, Freeway route first. Didn't PR, but it was within a minute.
On my fast lap, at the very top I passed a guy with rope and climbing gear who I learned climbed Freeway with his kid who seemed to be about 7 or 8 years old. But -- get this -- that was after they rode their bikes all the way from Westminster, at least 15 miles away, and hiked up to the rock. And then they hiked back down and had to ride all the way back home. That blows my mind! PS - I need to do that.
Second lap I climbed to the right up the water groove and pine tree, and continued up the gully, taking harder lines when possible. If it was more vertical, I did it. If it was smoother, I did it.
Higher up. This is about 150 feet above the last photo. You can see there is some decent texture here, but I tried to take lines where the holds were basically pencil-width to 2-pencil-width. Due to the long possible fall, I did not do pure friction climbing here.
Chautauqua meadow from the Second:
Ha ha ... I think I know the father and son duo you saw on the second: https://www.instagram.com/p/BoX1WJ_B4XV/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=gp6b0i56zsby
ReplyDeleteYep, that's them! I had no idea who that was at the time, but I recognized the name, probably from your posts about the Tour Divide. Now at least I understand the biking from home part! At the I was thinking "that's a long way". Ha!
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