I headed to Leavenworth with Velvet and Lillie for the weekend to enjoy some climbing. It just so happened that Rockfest was going on, so we decided to camp and enjoy the festivities. We headed out at about 5:00pm Friday afternoon, after some last minute delays and got to the Bridge Creek CG Group Area at about 7:30pm. It was already pretty crowded, but we were able to get a good spot to set up camp. Friday night was not too loud or crazy, but more of a mellow night with people streaming in.
Saturday morning was nice, as we had coffee and relaxed while we were waiting for the seminars to start. Velvet was going to go to beginning climbing and I went in for some Bouldering Techniques. Bouldering was fun, but was more of a session that a class. About 5 or 6 of us headed up into the Forestland boulder area and worked a few problems. I did a few V0's to warm up and a nice V1 before moving up out of Lower Forestland and getting on a super-nice V3 that we all worked at for a while. It was a touch sit start to a ledge, then get a side-pull and slap a block... stand up and keep reaching for a jug on the top of the block and finish off the top out. I worked on it pretty hard and finally hit the money move, but was pumped and chickened out on the top-out. The landing was not too good and I wasn't feeling it, but I will be back to send that problem for sure.
It was about Noon, and I went back to Barney's Rubble to meet up with Velvet. After her class, there was a group of beginners on TR doing one of the slab routes on Barney's. She was pretty nervous, but when it was her turn, she roped up and gave it a go. She did great, and then got to a tough spot she couldn't get past. It was a committing move with just a smear and no good hands. She tried for a few minutes, then lowered down. We practiced on the slab at the ground, and she realized her shoes will hold. She went back on the rope and gave it another shot... after a minute of getting her nerve up, she went for it and made it no problem.
At this point, lunch and some rest sounded pretty good, so we headed back to camp to fuel up and relax for a little bit. After lunch, I borrowed a demo pad from Joe from P-Town, who was one of the gear reps showing products. He was a really cool guy and hooked up the pad so we could get in a bouldering session. We headed back up to the Forestland boulders and did laps on a bunch of 0's and 1's. It was a lot of fun, but I banged my knee (good one) and decided to call it a day.
We headed back to camp, and the BBQ was already starting. Feathered Friends and a variety of sponsors put on a great BBQ, free beer and Sonnie Trotter and Collin (something-or-other... sorry man) did a great slide show, with some amazing pictures. After the slide show, the music was cranked and fire started, which carried on into the night. We were pretty tired by about midnight, and headed to bed.
Sunday morning brought pancakes, courtesy of Rockfest, which was awesome. So nice to have a hot "real" breakfast which camping. After that, we headed out to Playground Point so Velvet could conquer Baby Steps. I led it and she was able to make it up without any trouble at all. After that we headed to the upper slabs and I let a 5.8 and 5.9 up there that I had done before. We still had to pack up our camp, so we headed back to BCCG and got ready to head home. We finished off the trip with a stop at Munchen Haus for a Cheddar Jalapeno Brat and a beer. What a way to finish a great weekend.
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