Page 1 of 2
59-inch Drill*itch
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:56 pm
by weber
Here's my favorite unsung hero -- Squeezindlemmon, aka 59-inch Drillbitch.
It takes a lot of grueling work -- more than most of us realize or appreciate -- to develop a new route. This is not a posed novelty photo. It was taken as I watched Karla wrestle a heavy, bone-chattering Boshe hammer drill to put in ten Dynabolts on a new route. Some of you macho jocks try hanging and drilling for an hour with half your body weight in equipment and hardware suspended from your harness. Rock dust, sweat, fatigue. It ain't fun.
When you're up sending your favorite RRG climb, remember the folks whose efforts made it possible.
PS
Because this photo was taken with a telephoto lens, it looks like the bolt hole is going in 2 feet below another hanger. Actually this other hanger, with a draw on it, is about 10 feet back on another route, and the crack is about 30 feet back.
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:58 pm
by dipsi
One of my heros for sure!
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:59 pm
by Joel
Karla,
We can't thank you enough.
(That goes for you, too, Rick.)
Joel
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:07 pm
by squeezindlemmon
Awww... ya'll are gonna make me cry!
Rick forgot to mention that although it's a lot of hard work, it's a lot of fun to do too... esp since I get to do it with an awesome crowd.
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:12 pm
by Caspian
Thanks a lot Squeeze.
by the way...whats the name of that crack behind you?...seriously
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:21 pm
by J-Rock
That crack has not been climbed yet and as far as we know nobody had any plans for it. I thought it might be 5.8 or 5.9 by the looks of it. The rock is good and the route is more than 100 feet long. Whoever does the the FA will have the honor of cleaning it (there is one short green section) and installing anchors. Also, it ends under an enormous arch. 8)
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:21 pm
by squeezindlemmon
Hahaha... Rick we're in trouble now.... have we disclosed the location of this climb? I have been getting several pms asking about that crack already!
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:25 pm
by tomdarch
Look at those forearms! I'm jealous!
Thanks to the whole team for putting up all those routes!
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 10:11 pm
by pigsteak
telephot lens..does that make squeeze 2 foot tall or 8 foot tall in reality..I want to know the size of the monster I have been tackling..
nice work....I do feel your pain...and joy.
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 2:20 am
by Alan Evil
Heh heh, under an arch, eh?