New River Gorge

Its day 3 of the trip, 2 days of bouldering and Jeff and I are on our "rest day"; Eric and Chris are climbing at bubba city, we plan on catching up with them after lunch.  Camping has been good; this should be the coldest spot for a while, with lows in the 20s.  The cars are working out well, we are perfecting our packing and streamlining so its easy to keep under control.  We've all got the grunge smell cooking, but i guess if we all smell we should be desensitized to each other. We're eating on the cheap, but anything is good with enough seasoning and hot sauce.  Thank god for coffee in the morning, it saves the day.  We have a lot of snacks and a lot of beer, a problem we will wish we have for the rest of the trip im sure.

 The first day we went to Cotton Hill to boulder, Its a cool spot right on the river, with a 2 minute approach.  It was cloudy and in the mid 30s, but there was thankfully no snow.  Worked on a couple fours, chris and i sent "slitty titty", jeff sent his first v4, "mines of moria" a great overhung boulder with just about everything in the book.  chris put down "fingers malone", a hard almost horizontal crack that goes at V7.  I had my eye on a highball V5, "ninjas have ultimate power" and sent it first try at dusk, it was perfect; but of course no one took photos so i took some of chris cruising it after.

  Jeff here, so we pulled in saturday night after a nine hour trip, yeah, too long. First day was cool because there was a possibility of rain or snow, and both were no shows. It was cold but the climbing was awesome. Next morning was the coldest its been 22 degrees. We headed out to Hawks nest dam, nestled in between heavily wooded hills, the sun came out right on top of us, and what started as a frigid morning turned into perfect climbing weather. Jeans an a flannel ya dig. Eric unfortunatley had to take a rest day but hes out workin the walls now. Chris and Lee sent an awesome V6 with a super tight hand heel match that rocks into a perch, thing was sweet. I worked a four earlier that lee and chris also sent, couldnt get the first move, but went back for one last stop and made real progress. I killed myself on that thing, felt great but no send...i wanna go back. "Ut oh" Lee Walter says to my left, good times, talk to yall later

Hawks Nest Dam

Hawks Nest Sunset

Jeff on Slitty Titty

Eric on v2? v3? ask him.

Jeff on his first V4 "mines of moria"

Vanek making the crazy cross on "Fingers Malone" V7

"Ninjas Have Ultimate Power" Highball V5

Lee Sending "Slitty Titty"