Escaping another rainy Seattle weekend, Ian and I dashed to Trout Creek, OR after work last Friday for a weekend of spectacular crack climbing. We were joined there by JP, whom I'd met in The Valley a few weeks prior. This was my first foray to Trout Creek and I was suitably impressed - some of the best pure crack climbing I've ever experienced!

We started things off Saturday afternoon at The Northern End on T-Handles (5.9) and Talkin' It Clean (5.10-).

SIZING UP THE CRACKS AT THE NORTHERN POINT


IAN LEADING T-HANDLES




JP ON TALKIN' IT CLEAN


Then it was a lap each on Salad Daze (5.9) and Bedside Manner (5.9). On our way back to camp that evening we wandered on past the main wall and scoped out the cracks there.

SUNSET ON THE MAIN WALL


Sunday found us at the main wall where we each led Gold Rush (5.10a/b), a stupendous one hundred-foot hand crack - probably the best I've ever climbed.

LEADING GOLD RUSH








Then I gave JR Token (5.10b/c) a go. It began with straightforward jams to a sustained thin hands section near the top which gave me some trouble. I ended up hanging on a few pieces while on lead but managed to get it clean on top-rope later. I've got a project to work on! I'll definitely be back.

TROUT CREEK - OREGON'S CRACK CLIMBING PARADISE


More photos: my Trout Creek October 2011 photo set on Flickr »

Labels: Crag, Road Trip