Went to Eldorado Canyon for the first time yesterday to do some multi-pitch climbing with my friend Bryan.I was pretty excited because it was going to be my first trad multi-pitch experience. I have done two other multi-pitch climbs before, but those were both sport climbs.
Not too mention the fact that I was going to Eldo which I have just heard so much about. To say the least it lived up to my expectations and much more.
Bryan and I climbed two classic routes that were both 3 pitches. The first was Wind Ridge on the Wind Tower and the second was West Buttress which is on the Bastille.
The first route was a 5.8, the moves were really easy but a lot of fun. I can understand why it is a classic.
Here is a picture of Bryan and I on the top of Wind Ridge
My first multi pitch trad climb, I was pretty happy
We didn't know whether or not we would be able to climb another route because the weather was looking a little grim, but we decided to give a go anyway.
I am glad that we did, the West Buttress was definitely more challenging. It was a sandbagged 5.9s, which the s stands for sketchy and boy was it.
I was ok with that though I dig a little sketchy every now and then. The beginning of the route had some crazy traversing with no feet and small hands. Although the first pitch was hard I would have to say that the second pitch was definitely the crux. You work good holds to an offwidth chimney that you could barely fit in and with maybe two or three positive holds the whole way up. The fact that I had a pack on certainly didn't help either.
To say the least these climbs rocked and I couldn't thank Bryan more for my first trad multi-pitch experience in Eldorado Canyon.
If you haven't been to Eldo you need to check it out, I could definitely see myself climbing there more often.
Alright well I am off to Denver today and climbing at Boulder Canyon tomorrow.
Ryan
