A Reason for Cake

With the changing season we come to expect glorious weather during the week, while many of us are couped up at work, with weekends threatening rain to dampen any idea of outdoor fun.  This weekend was looking, what the 28 day rain forecast predicts, to be the start of this new normal.  During the week plans were made, scrapped and then Saturday morning with clouds gathering in the west Rongy, Steve and I decided we’d risk it:

With the nagging doubt of possibly being rained out we decided to avoid the coastal climbing and do a quick trip to Welly Dam.  A good call.  We were bathed in dappled sunlight, as it broke through the high, white and fluffy clouds that didn’t pose any risk of holding rain.  Arriving first I decided to rack up and be ready to pounce into action, and so as soon as Rongy arrived the games began:

I led Raging Torrent as a warm up, it’s a good one as it provides a huge variety of movements and to be climbed well requires a variety of styles applied.  Gently warming up most of the muscles required for the day, while stretching out those tendons in relatively short and never too intensely sections.  While I led the first line Rongy pulled the rope, as he too wanted to get that feeling of being on floppy end:

Steve rocked up as we were finishing on the first line, he however was not sure where his climbing shoes were.  So as he unpacked his car in search of them Rongy used his rope and ran up Savage Sausage Sniffer.  I had a moment when I led that route and had to down climb the flake and have a little talk to myself before going back up.  After that Steve resided to the fact that he hadn’t brought his shoes, and more worrying was he didn’t know where they were:

So as you’ll see above he borrowed our shoes, literally both of ours… one of each.  They both kinda fitted and so he thought he would test both styles as he followed up Raging Torrent.  In view of his impending surgery he was being wise and only top roping today.  He made short work of this line, and then once safe at the top threw the shoes down.  My memory of why is hazy, it can’t have been to crack on as both ropes were already in use:

We knew what we would hit next, we had joked about it but it looked like I was really going to do it.  I wasn’t all that confident so was happy for Steve who was feeling good to have a bash at Savage Sausage Sniffer.  This time he just used Rongy’s shows, as the preferred shoe shape for his feet.  He wasn’t looking too good in the lower section and by the ledge he was panting away and in no fit state to keep going so he came back down:

So it was then for me to jump on Ear of Fear, a perfect climb for when you are not feeling that strong or confident NOT.  I nervously made my way to the crux, as Steve and Rongy chatted in a relaxed way about life and the universe.  That would normally irk me when I’m not confident, but I blocked it out and pulled through cleanly (with a couple of Chris Sharma audio renditions).  Rongy then followed and also did great on it.  Steve however was now only a spectator:

With Steve now watching, Rongy felt he could push the boat out a little further.  Did you hear me groan?  So the Indian rope trick continued and the rope miraculously fed it’s way in a vertical direction out of the of the basket.  This time up Chasing Mason, we could feel the humidity building during the last climb and you’ll see a rare sight above and below of Rongy with a chalk bag, more amazing being that it was open before he set off:

While we were indulging in this more challenging line, on which we both took a fall or two, Steve had spied a possible new route and was busy setting up a top rope.  So we gave him a belay and watched him climb, which he did very smoothly and confidently.  Following him up it we reckon it’ll be about a Welly Dam 18, and it was really nice, consistent and independent of any other line.  So he now has yet another project to add to his long list of things to distract him:

In view that Steve was looking good on that climb I suggested squeezing in a couple more; ones that he’d like to second.  So we bagged Pocket Knife and A Walk in Central Park while still in awe of the conditions today.  As we climbed these we got talking to a guy who was there with his family, and who happened to be Eric (2), who used to climb with Eric (1) who recently moved over east and was the other owner of the climbing holds I bought of Eric (1).  It’s a small world:

Rongy then had to dash to get ready for a wedding so this time the shoe throwing was justified to allow him to scoot.  Steve and I cleared the rest of the gear before heading off.  On the way home I stopped at the Boyanup Bakery and cake was in order for multiple reasons: bagging an unexpected morning out; Steve’s new route discovery and having had one more climb before the operation; and more importantly being able to get Rongy out climbing on his birthday: