tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169951882026-07-24T00:05:40.280-06:00Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-55279901267120095442009-12-01T13:26:00.009-07:002009-12-01T14:53:10.688-07:00

I headed to Zion National Park with Tom Kavanaugh for the Thanksgiving weekend to climb Spaceshot. My first big wall lead. A big wall is any wall that is over 1000 feet high, requires aid technique, is vertical or overhanging and requires overnight bivy(s).Climbed the first two pitches of Organasm 5.8 C2 on Friday to warm up, and just to see if I still remembered how to aid climb. That second

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-77031739575355393312009-05-17T09:23:00.013-06:002009-05-27T20:11:28.884-06:00

(click image to enlarge)I was offered a chance to climb El Cap with Ben from Oregon, a pretty good offer considering all the preparations were made and all the gear was already at the base. Zodiac is on the far right side of El Cap, a shorter route at 16 pitches but very vertical and technical at C3+ A2. I bivyed in Ben's campsite at the Pines and we left the next morning to get on the wall. Ben

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-71813502076925028812009-05-15T20:10:00.002-06:002009-05-27T21:00:25.689-06:00

A week ago Friday I climbed the NE Buttress on Higher Cathedral with Robert from Poland. We ascended the 11 pitch 5.9 route in 8 hours thanks to Robert's brilliant leads on sustained 5.9 cracks and chimneys.(click image to enlarge)

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-499189840680173442009-05-12T20:18:00.000-06:002009-05-27T20:19:43.313-06:00

The next day I climbed Kor-Beck 5.9, 6 pitches on Middle Cathedral with Brian from Hawaii. Only three stars and a bit manky but a Yosemite classic regardless.On my way back to Camp 4 I saw some people setting up a slack line so I decided to go check them out and see if I could make some friends. Well it turned out to be the same group that had set up the slackline at the top of Yosemite Falls the

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-87588860524296488992009-05-11T08:35:00.015-06:002009-05-27T20:19:25.707-06:00

Next on our agenda - The Lost Arrow Spire, a 300 foot spire that sits at the top of the wall just below Yosemite Point and to the right of Yosemite Falls, 2500 feet above the valley floor. To climb the spire you hike up the tourist trail to the top of Yosemite Falls, rappel into the notch between the spire and the rim on two ropes fixed on the rim. Then you climb two pitches to the spire tip

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-50446655196606753392009-05-09T20:09:00.000-06:002009-05-27T20:12:52.342-06:00

Friday morning I headed out with Rudy to climb the Central Pillar of Frenzy 5.9 on Middle Cathedral Rock - an imposing crack climb directly up the NE face. (click image to enlarge)I wasn't sure how I would do on the 5.9 finger crack on pitch 2 but I found that I can climb those better than the wider fist jams up higher. We completed the climb before noon and headed back to camp.

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-46433874834575712009-05-07T23:55:00.003-06:002009-05-08T00:11:57.430-06:00

Yesterday we climbed Nutcracker which was my first ever Yosemite climb last year. It was really cool to lead with ease the 5.8 pitches that I struggled with as a second last year.(click image to enlarge)Then we took a ride up to Glacier Point which is an overlook a few thousand feet above the valley floor -- stunning views of Half Dome and all the high peaks in the distance.Today we got up early

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-64797829998320288462009-05-06T08:20:00.005-06:002009-05-07T23:23:24.036-06:00

Yesterday was a rest day because of the rain during the night and because Scott wanted to hike to Nevada Falls - we went our separate ways in the morning. I stopped by the mountaineering store and found out that the HB Offsets are supposed to arrive any day now - I left my number. I headed back to Camp 4 to put on some shorts and witnessed an eviction ala Pinkie the Ranger. I trolled the boulder

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-44975355570213210782009-05-05T21:27:00.004-06:002009-05-07T23:17:19.780-06:00

I am sitting in the cafeteria at Yosemite lodge Larry and Harry from Long Beach, Phillip from Heidleberg and Scott.I am enjoying my second breakfast of V8 and Red Bull -- one can of each. I had green tea and frosted mini wheats in Camp 4 as it awoke this morning. For dinner last night Scott ate canned baked beans with potted meat and mashed potatoes -- what is potted meat? -- he said that the

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-19069061350161836292009-05-05T21:18:00.006-06:002009-05-07T23:13:57.188-06:00

Last night we bivyed at a KOA plopped in an industrial park at the edge of Fresno -- an acquired taste. We stopped at Walmart in Fresno to buy white t-shirts and return broken sunglasses. Scott bought me a pair of children's pink arm swimming floatys -- I thought it was a nice gesture but I'm not sure what he is implying by the pink color. Thanks Scott.We arrived at Yosemite about noon time, with

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-70991323847278106022009-05-03T08:22:00.006-06:002009-05-07T23:13:27.928-06:00

We are driving in the Mohave desert of California on our way to Yosemite Valley.Slept under the stars last night at Red Rocks, Nevada -- after a long day of driving and little sleep the night before. Rose at dawn to go climb and made our approach to Oak Creek Canyon, Solar Slab area. (click image to enlarge)We arrived to the climb just behind another party -- city boys -- clearly a slow party. I

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-36170800270290912102009-04-25T17:05:00.013-06:002009-04-26T22:27:01.850-06:00

I just spent two days climbing at Eldo with Patrik Larsson. Patrik has been my number 1 climbing partner for 3 years now -- a very precise Swedish dude who knows Eldo, knows climbing and knows my ability better than I do.Pony Express First Pitch 5.9, Eldo, is the crack on the left(click image to enlarge)I led 6 pitches of 5.9 (my edge) with an excellent head and questionable style. I got 4 of the

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-45253364708727787182009-04-22T22:58:00.000-06:002009-04-22T16:17:11.916-06:00

Less than two weeks until my month in Yosemite Valley. As I lay my head to the pillow at night a drama; visions of granite, adventure and heroics play in my brain. I can feel the great rock on my fingers and in my body as I teeter and dance above the valley floor. I cringe with delight at off-width chasms, dark chimneys and great roofs as I focus to move another step closer. Images of the legends

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-19741904624702312982009-04-14T10:38:00.003-06:002009-04-14T10:46:52.796-06:00

(click image to enlarge)(click image to enlarge)MORE TO COME

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-12044953260642571952009-03-31T09:04:00.027-06:002009-04-26T22:26:31.510-06:00

Stuart Paul on lead on Pic o' the Vic WI4 -- Ouray Ice Park(click image to enlarge)I spent 21 days this winter hanging from icicles in Ouray, Colorado. Ouray is, one of my favorite places in Colorado, an amazing little town, population about 800, that sits in a box canyon at the northern gateway to the San Juan mountains. At the edge of town is the Umcompagre Gorge and the Ouray Ice Park, a mile

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-19241875640918445302009-03-30T21:54:00.008-06:002009-03-30T23:26:41.833-06:00

A week ago Sunday, Rocco and I went to the Mace Hut in Castle Creek in the Elk Range near Aspen. Amos Mace was our gracious host and he and Donnie from Glenwood met us at Ashcroft and pulled me into the hut on my split snowboard behind a snowmobile. Rocco had to run up the hill along with Amos' white husky dog.The hut, 4 miles up at 10,800 ft is made of stone and was built by a team of Swiss

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-87670641274112401252009-03-28T21:42:00.006-06:002009-03-30T11:28:24.983-06:00

Last Thursday was sicknasty at Beaver Creek. There was over 30 inches of fresh powder and 11 inches from overnight. We rode the trees off of Rose Bowl and cut fresh tracks, knee deep, all day. In the afternoon it snowed so hard that you could barely see the chair in front of you.

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-69227278357506124272009-03-21T23:04:00.005-06:002009-03-28T20:04:56.157-06:00

Titcomb Basin from Mt Fremont, Wind River Range, WyomingA few years ago in July Rocco and I went backpacking in the Wind River Range with an awesome group from the Chaos Outdoor Club in Boulder. We hiked 11 miles into Island Lake, just below Titcomb Basin at the foot of Mt. Fremont (13,730'), the second highest peak in the Winds after Gannett. The Winds are a rugged vertical range of bomber

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-37157525655485429022009-03-20T16:56:00.012-06:002009-04-26T22:17:27.139-06:00

When I moved to Colorado six years ago I was living alone, in poverty, in Fort Collins with no wheels. My system was in shock after leaving my previous big city life in Chicago. I went through every day with the mountains watching me and calling from the west as I worked to establish myself in Colorado and to build my web design business. I longed for the day when I would have the freedom to go

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-12295507891051930072009-03-19T14:15:00.011-06:002009-03-28T22:05:55.547-06:00

SKY Chutes from Copper Mountain Super Bee liftA few weeks ago I hooked up with riding buds Jeremiah and Doug for a ski mountaineering day in Summit County. The plan was to ride the K chute, one of the SKY chutes on the west side of the 10 Mile Range opposite Copper Mountain. If you are driving down from Vail Pass on east-bound I-70 you can see the SKY chutes clearly -- they are three avalanche

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-30478995315037584472009-03-17T17:05:00.005-06:002009-03-17T18:38:23.646-06:00

Rocco and I headed down to Shelf Road outside Canon City, Colorado, a few weeks ago, for a two day sport climbing, grunt fest on those vertical limestone cliffs, with rope gun Boulder Rudy. Jonesin' for caffeine we stopped into the Coyote Coffee Company, on Hwy 115, where I ate the best chunk of homemade apple pie ever, with my bare hands dirt-bag style. Rudy got none and I had to apologize.That

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-1811076706182147292009-03-16T11:13:00.015-06:002009-04-26T22:27:53.583-06:00

With all the warm weather I thought I was done with ice climbing for the season, and was happy to quit while I was ahead, having made it unscathed, just with swollen knuckles, through a season with over 120 pitches, many difficult leads and some awesome alpine adventures. If you are interested there is a complete list of my climbs here. But, all it took was a phone call from Tom Kavanaugh and a

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-1307076292081786912008-11-05T21:52:00.002-07:002008-11-05T22:37:34.845-07:00

with Erich and Tom.Climbed the gulley to the low point on the traverse.Scrambled for 100 yards to the south on the east side over 3rd and 4th class terrain covered with 6 inches of soft snow.Bailed.

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-66867891536046533652007-07-31T15:46:00.000-06:002007-07-31T21:54:05.153-06:00

DAY 1 - 9pmI am hiking with Mark from Denver. Last night we camped near Spring Creek Pass after dropping food at Molas Pass near Silverton (end of Day 3). I parked my car at the end of the trail in Durango at Junction Creek and Kase drove us 3 hours to the start. Thanks Kase. We hiked 16 miles today. We passed the Colorado trail yurt where Rocco and I went last winter. It was cool to see the same

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16995188.post-88101116462177452132007-07-09T20:32:00.000-06:002007-07-10T10:07:58.853-06:00

Rocco and I headed up to the area of Mt Powell and Peak C on Friday afternoon. At the trailhead is the Piney River Ranch, an old style camp sorta place in a gorgeous setting with Mt Powell and Peak C at the end of the valley. From the trailhead I could see the col I would cross the next day into the Black Creek Valley en route to the summit of Powell. I could also see the snow couloir on the

Stuart Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03607505964022803534noreply@blogger.com0