climbing

A meadow along the Pine Creek trail in the San Isabella Wilderness, heavily worked over in Photoshop. When I'm not burning time in the Denver airport, I want to do better by the trees and the creek.

A week in the Collegiate Wilderness with Corey: no sleep, relentless wind, grass-knot ground, crampons over a pass, and snow that wouldn't quit. We bailed down Pine Creek and caught a ride from some kind old hunters.

The plan: camp at the trailhead, then run up Huron, Missouri, Belford, Oxford, Harvard, Columbia, and Yale, weather and appetite for pain permitting. If Corey remembers his Spot Locator, whereiscurtis.com might even track it.

The rental site promised a Caliber and gave us a PT Cruiser. But the real story is this year's Grand Canyon Death March: a rim-to-rim-to-rim in 19:57, nearly four hours faster than last year. The taped toes held. I might be done with these.

Off to the Grand Canyon for Death March, Part 2. Last time was 23:41; armed with better water intel and properly taped heels, we're chasing sub-twenty. Update: 19:57, three minutes to spare. Glad I skipped the baby rattlesnake trophy.

Three plans in the works: the second annual Death March at the Grand Canyon (chasing sub-20 hours), four-plus days across the Collegiate Peaks, and a possible West Rib climb. I need ice climbing partners. Anyone? Fat chance, I know, but I ask anyway.

After summitting we set up camp in the saddle at 13,500 feet, between Liberty Cap and the true summit. Flat, spacious, sheltered from the wind, everything I could ask for. A shame we only stayed one night.

I crammed seventy-three pounds of gear and weights into the Mountain Hardwear South Col for a stair session. The external suspension strap is a nice touch and it weighs half what my Osprey does, though the shoulder cinches are stingy on leverage. Off to Rainier with it Saturday.