Colorado Crew

 

Our four friends from Colorado have left but not before dispatching a few projects.

They started off their trip on the receiving end of the Squamish Shutdown. V4s were a challenge at first but after a few days in the forest they learned the style a bit and were enjoying the slabs and technical problems. It turns out Flannery has an abundance of slab skills, they were just dormant at first. She managed quick work of the V3 friction slab that I had to project and she far surpassed my highpoint on Black Slabbath.

Last week the crew started trying Defenders of the Faith, a notoriously difficult V9. I’ve put three sessions in on this problem and have yet to send! It ain’t easy. It is an anti Squamish style problem with incut crimps on an overhanging wall. Normally the problem is done in a few big moves and ends with a dyno:
Flann got some beta from Natasha Barnes that is less reachy and was able to do all the moves on her first session. It was very impressive to watch Flann crush the second move that I haven’t been able to do! She put it all together in her third session for the send. I don’t know of any women who have climbed this boulder so Flannery may have been the first.
Asher was really close to sending The Egg V11 two days ago, falling on the last move after a long session. On his last day, as it was getting dark, he stuck the crux moves and pulled off the dyno for the send! An awesome last-go effort.

Good times were had by all and everyone climbed at least one highball, hard problem, and slab. The complete Squamish experience.