Nick Cave Roof

Before my trip to the States in Sept we found yet another area on Orust. Having been listening to the music of Nick Cave around that time I christened the area's impressive roof after the musician and went to work on the various problems. After that first day we managed to put up two problems that came out the roof (Loretta and Henry Lee respectively and both great problems in there own right) but the main line out the middle shut us down. The project took on the name Stagger Lee and has apparently continued to shut down potential suitors in my absence. With any luck we'll have some good weather and my next encounter with Stagger Lee will turn out in my favor. We'll see.
Here's some footage from that first day with the fa of Henry Lee and an attempt of the project.
Just so you know, the soundtrack is a Nick Cave song and contains some expletives.

A Day with My Sis

My week in Colorado started by picking up a couple hitchhikers and camping out with big sis. September is a perfect month in Colorado. Good friends, brilliant weather, and exceptional climbing made for a perfect week. Here's a few pics of the day with my sister.

Our camping spot outside Breckenridge.

Orion and Katerina never made it to Pie Town, but Pie Town came to them.

Sweet cabin in the mountain. I'm moving in.

Timing our jumps to the camera's timer made for some sweet "dance" moves.

Good timing

Colorado

Here's a few pics of the climbing from CO.

Mellisa takes a bite of Josh's foot on Sunspot, RMNP.

Charlie in the Poudre. Looking svelte thanks to a liquid diet.

Ryan needs to eat a cheeseburger

Ryan on the incredible roof problem Eternia, RMNP

One of Colorado's best. Small Acts in the Poudre.

Monster Island Bouldering

Monster Island is one of the bouldering areas a few miles outside of Pie Town. Steep climbing 8000 feet above sea level in a beautiful setting. Oh yeah, and you're only minutes from pie. Here's a video of three of the area classics.

Flagstaff

In our four days on Flagstaff we climbed on three different rock types and four different areas. I in all my travels I still haven't found a better city for climbing and it tops our list for places to live should we move to the States.

Jenny gunning for a jug at the draw

Roof climbing

The draw

Kelly Canyon's superb "Donkey Punch" wall

Prairie on "Dope Lounge"

Jason in Cherry Canyon

Prairie in Cherry

The crawsly of life

Pie Fest and Beyond

Another great Pie Fest under my belt. Friends and family from all over converged on our little town for pie, climbing, horny toad races, a spaghetti feast, etc, etc. Those that haven't been are missing out as Pie Town truly is a little slice of heaven.

It was great to see everyone and I'm looking forward to next year.

Warm up slab

Frankenstein

Velcro Kitty

Roof Project

Monster Island

Some tough competitors in the pie eating contest

explaining the rules of the horny-toad race

The race is on

The Land of the Free

Other than having my peanut butter taken from me by security (honestly, can't people use a little discretion when taking potentially "dangerous liquids" from travelers), my travels went off without a hitch. Now I'm back in the good old US of A where people, vehicles, and egos are noticeably larger. Ahhhhhh, don't you love the taste of freedom.

First stop is Pie Town for the annual festival. Lots of family, friends, climbing, and of course pie.

check out an old Pie Fest vid I made in 2005


and if you want more pie action my friend at backyardbouldering has made a vid for the last couple years as well.

http://www.youtube.com/user/BackyardBouldering

I'll let everyone know how this fest goes and I'm hoping for a Swedish invasion next year.