Did you climb this weekend Joel? I was shocked at how tolerable it was... everything super dry anyway. Reminded me a little bit of climbing Joshua Tree in the hot season... just follow the shade. Actually did two new trad routes in the sun yesterday, a little burly for sure but the deerflies and gear were bad enough that heat was the last thing on my mind.
How about that "derecho" wind Friday??? Crazy!! We had just rapped over the edge of a 40 meter cliff when it hit....trees blowing 30 feet side to side... way hairball.
Dustin, I tried to texted you on Saturday morning. I had no internet access and my phone was close to dead, so I hit up sore heel and found some honeybadgers to climb with. Me and Laur were driving through that crazy wind, we thought it might be the end.
How you compare may not be as important as to whom you are compared
Believe it or not, I used to wear bulky black yoga pants in July while out climbing. And now I refuse to see the gorge from late June through mid-August.
I love climbing in the summer... long days, no crowds. It gives me a chance to visit some of the more popular and over crowded crags that I tend to avoid in spring/fall. Solar Collector is almost always empty in July.
Is this the latest in subtle spray, provoking others to endure heat strokes so you crowd-phobics can pretend to rule the roost. Sack up, wear your stooopid flip flops and jeans to the lode in primo sausage sending fest temps, and end this illusion. Climbing in summer sucks and only makes wankers suck more. There is no glory in climbing trad at the red in november let alone july. Trad is where we all go when we have given up the ghost and realize it is all a downhill ride to the grave. Get in the climbing gym, put in the hard reps, and quit finding excuses for not sending when the weather breaks.