2008 Climbing Rejuvenation!!

For some reason, year 2008 is turning into a good climbing year for Steve. With a couple of new partners and one old one, old personal testpieces are being revisited, while new routes are offering adventure yet unseen.

Before the raptor closures hit, Brian, Steve, and Rob managed to get up my local favorite, cynacle pinnacle. The pinnacle is such an odd formation, as granite towers are rare (at least in these parts), and a multi-pitch route with this kind quality less than an hour away from my doorstep can only bring a smile to your face. Being only late February, we pretty much froze our butts off, brutilzed our hands, and I probably shiverred for over an hour straight at the third belay....perfection!

I find a happy Rob and Brian at the crowded third belay. Rob about to take off and make the 10a traverse from center route over to wunch's.

Rob on top of the third pitch, after finishing the crux and feeling cold, spent, but satisfied.

Dodek taking care of business on the summit. Note the endless routes of the Cathedral Spires in the background. Less than an hour of light left and a storm to the west....time to go!
The very next weekend, Rob, Joby, and Steve got to challenge themselves on the "Grand Giraffe" route in the awesome Eldorado Canyon. Here's rob getting out there on Pitch 2, a typical eldorado discontinuous here and there crack! A much nicer and sunier day finally got rid of the chills from weekend prior.

After just a smidge of encouragement, and realizing that he's pulling hard man routes in the gym, Joby gets his sharp end on!

Rob taking off on the climbs namesake...the grand giraffe. Glad i didn't have to climb with or plug in those big cams!

Finally after Rob gets sick me and Joby's belay anticts/stalling techniques, Rob takes off on the typical eldo top out pitches....Easy, Juggy, and blank for pro. Easy to second, but heady to lead, Rob bails out back into the vert world.

A final belay before we summit, Rob and Joby gather their gusto!