Today, wednesday, started with a 7AM drive from Estes Park to the Denver airport to drop my family off. Then I met up with Roman in town and we headed out for Mt Evans. We started the hike around 11AM and probably made it to the boulders around noon. It’s a long hike for sure but felt easier than the hike into the park. Fewer tourists helps, as does even better scenery at Evans. The boulders are situated at the base of a cliff in a cozy forest. We wandered through the boulders and made our way up to the infamous Dali wall. It is as impressive as everyone says. Line after hard line of crimps & slopers. We climbed the only warm up on the wall four times and then started on the Dali. I botched my flash attempt by trying to dyno with the wrong hand.. After working out the dyno, I sent on my next try.
Then the rain started… It was slow at first so I gave Clear Blue Skies V12 two weak efforts and spent a little time on No More Greener Grasses V12. Then the wind picked up enough to dampen the overhanging wall and we were forced to call it a day. Frequently the rain will blow over but today there were no clear skies in sight.
So far Colorado has been rather inhospitable. Evans is on the agenda again for tomorrow so hopefully the climbing to hiking ratio will be a little more favorable!