Climbers Versus Washington Weather

The cold season has arrived in Washington State but that doesn’t keep us from optimistically hoping to continue climbing outdoors. Colin and I woke up at 6:30 am last Saturday eager to get our climb on. Seattle has been experiencing a cold front with beautiful clear skies and sunshine, which probably only added to our excitement (sunshine is like a drug for vitamin d deficient Seattleites). As we’re sitting on the couch gulping down hot coffee,we both take out our iPhones and open the WeatherApp. The app displays the current temperature on Mercer Island at 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

Does this frighten us? Nope, we basically turn to each other and say “wear warm clothes”. We are not afraid of bundling up. By 7:00 am we are heading out the door with our fully loaded packs. The car is completely covered in frost and ice. Does this seem like a warning sign? Nope, we take out the ice scraper and start warming up the car. Finally, we’re ready to hit interstate 90 for our destination, exit 38 in North Bend.

It probably should have seemed like foreshadowing that there were no other vehicles around at the crag parking area. The lot is normally filled, if not packed, with people in the summer time. We stuck with optimistic thoughts like, “We came early enough to beat the crowd!” and “we’ll have the crag all to ourselves”. Both of these ended up being true. By the time we left the crag a few hours later, there were two other vehicles there. And yes, we had the walls to ourselves the entire trip. Now do you feel the foreshadowing?

We reach the first crag of Exit 38 and *click*

Ah - cold, wet, icicles, everywhere.

Of course we had to take opportunities to enjoy the icicles ;)

Icicle gun

Then, we got down to business – found ourselves a dry, icicle free, warm up 5.9 route. It was a disaster... that "warm up" route, was far from warm and felt like I was attempting a 5.11c. Numb fingers, numb toes and gusts of wind. It ended up being the only route of the day.

You never know what you'll get here in the PNW but it was worth a shot anyways! The next day, Sunday, we headed out to Exit 32 with a couple friends. The temperatures were much warmer and the crag is located at a lower elevation then 38. Any weekend spent climbing, attempting to climb or just being outdoors is successful :)

Check out my instagram page for additional photos and videos from our trip with the icicles!

Stay warm during cold weather climbing

A few items we won't leave the house without

• Hand Warmers!
  Put these little puppies in your chalk bag, your fingers will thank you.


• Wind Resistant Pants!
  REI brand is our favorite, we love the zip pockets.


• A Down Jacket!
  It keeps you cozy and warm, especially when you belay.

Do you have items you won't leave the house without for climbing outdoors?

We want to know! Comment below with your go-to items :)

An iPhone app that allows you climb more and search less!

In my last post I was dreaming about guidebooks with GPS locations. The universe heard me and gave us one better, Rakkup! Rakkup is an iPhone application with turn for turn instructional guides and GPS locations. Oh and by universe I meant two awesome Seattlite climbers!

Image from: Adventure Journal

So more on Rakkup...It is a free to download iPhone application. Individual guides can be purchased for less than print cost. Our two Seattlites personally spent a week in California locating approaches and routes for their first guide release, Red Rocks. Here’s the good news fellow Seattlites, Rakkup has released a guidebook for a location right here in Washington state; Exit 32 in North Bend, home of the well-known crag called World Wall. For you Oregonians Rakkup's got you covered too with a guidebook for Smith Rocks.

A big question that must be lingering in your head, what if I don’t have any cellular service in the climbing area? Not a problem! Each guide downloads onto your phone and uses your phone’s GPS location to keep you heading in the right direction to the crags. Sweet right?!

We have a nice bookshelf that contains all of our pretty paperback guidebooks and what do we do? We pack up our gear and head out the door before grabbing it! I'm excited by the possibilities of never having to experience the disappointment when we realize we forgot our guide and we're already 1 hour away from home at the start of the trail head /facepalm. The day has come where we will no longer need additional gear except the one we always have in our pocket - our phone. Goodbye paperback guidebook, goodbye digital cameras, goodbye garmin gps systems...

I hope to test Rakkup in North Bend this weekend. Fingers crossed! Once I do I'll create a new post with my personal review. All previous information came from Rakkup.com and a review by Adventure Journal.

Cheers friends!

-Elle

Why do rope bags have one strap?

We recently purchased a rope bag for our new Sterling Rope (that we LOVE). One of our favorite places to go outdoor rope climbing is the exits - exit 32 or 38 in North Bend Washington. We don’t have a very long approach for either exit but our new rope bag is turning out to be less than desirable.

The Edelrid Caddy rope bag has a great bucket concept. There are rope tie-ins on the inside and a fantastic tarp that folds out and nicely stuffs back in but it has one shoulder strap. The more time we spend looking at different rope bags the more we see bags featuring a single strap approach. Why? Even with a short approach to a crag carrying a 70 meter rope + shoes + quick draws and chalk bag gets mighty heavy for a single shoulder to bear. So I ask again, why?

On our second crag trip with the Edelrid Caddy rope bag we attempted to stuff it into a backpack for easier carrying – its rotund shape did not like being stuffed into another pack nor did it easily pulled back out of the pack. Even with its awesome bucket concept, loops and tarp it was returned to REI. It is apparent, we need a rope bag with two straps - a backpack approach.

There are some great backpack rope bags out there that we would love to own - but their prices are outragous! We are looking for a reasonably priced backpack rope and gear bag. We are thinking of trying out the Speedster next. I'm still drawing a big wtf on why there are so many one strap rope bags out there...

If you have any other suggestions or experience with the Speedster please comment with them below :)

Climb on!

-Elle