Baker City, Or. and surrounding areas
The climbing:
I headed west once again, but stopped to visit more old friends; this time in Baker City. J.P. and Judy had moved away from Eugene about a year before, and I'd been wanting to visit ever since. The stories they'd told me about the rugged mountains and quiet town sounded nice, and I was glad to spend a few days and check it out. The local crag is Spring Mountain, just west of La Grande; a small andesite area of vertical cliffs and yellow lichen, it was a great place to spend a weekend. The first day we were joined by another climbing partner from Eugene, Dainella, who was spending the summer working nearby. I forgot my climbing shoes back in town, but was still able to climb some of the easier routes without.
Once I had my shoes, I was able to onsight several nice routes on the unique rock, including 'Freddy's Dead'.11d. Both days we were there, we were the first to arrive and the last to leave - not including the mosquitos, of course. I stuck to the not so steep routes, and tried to focus on good posture, but my elbow was still haunting me at every pull. There are several nice looking mid-5.12's here that I can't wait to try. I'll be back soon, I hope.
Before I headed back to the more familiar territory of Smith rock and Eugene, I spent a day with Judy visiting J.P. at work at the local ski area, Anthony Lakes. It's a small area, with only one chairlift and a dozen or so short runs, but the scenery is spectacular. It's hard to believe you're in Oregon, looking around at the rolling granite cliffs and basins in every direction.
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I headed west once again, but stopped to visit more old friends; this time in Baker City. J.P. and Judy had moved away from Eugene about a year before, and I'd been wanting to visit ever since. The stories they'd told me about the rugged mountains and quiet town sounded nice, and I was glad to spend a few days and check it out. The local crag is Spring Mountain, just west of La Grande; a small andesite area of vertical cliffs and yellow lichen, it was a great place to spend a weekend. The first day we were joined by another climbing partner from Eugene, Dainella, who was spending the summer working nearby. I forgot my climbing shoes back in town, but was still able to climb some of the easier routes without.
Once I had my shoes, I was able to onsight several nice routes on the unique rock, including 'Freddy's Dead'.11d. Both days we were there, we were the first to arrive and the last to leave - not including the mosquitos, of course. I stuck to the not so steep routes, and tried to focus on good posture, but my elbow was still haunting me at every pull. There are several nice looking mid-5.12's here that I can't wait to try. I'll be back soon, I hope.
Before I headed back to the more familiar territory of Smith rock and Eugene, I spent a day with Judy visiting J.P. at work at the local ski area, Anthony Lakes. It's a small area, with only one chairlift and a dozen or so short runs, but the scenery is spectacular. It's hard to believe you're in Oregon, looking around at the rolling granite cliffs and basins in every direction.