When Nelson returned from a trip to Colorado he insisted we come climbing downtown at Urban Krag, Dayton's indoor climbing gym. After about a year of regular visits and transitioning from bouldering to lead climbing we picked up the south guidebook and booked a cabin for a weekend at Lago Linda.
Friday after work we packed up the Xterra and Tim, Esteban, Nelson and I made our first venture down the Bert T Combs parkway into the gorge. Passing Miguels, Torrent Falls, and Rockhouse we whipped our way around Rt 11 till we hit the smaller roads taking us back to Lago Linda. Greg ended up meeting us that night, and Sara would be meeting us tomorrow at the wall.
Nerves high we roped up for our first lead on Mona Lisa Crack, successfully navigating the iron ore rails and moving delicately to the chains. We did it! Didn't die on our first route. With our confidence rising we lead Crescendo (even turning down a very nice gentleman offering to put up the first clip for us), A Beano, and CH4. After putting up The Offering, another group at Bruise Brothers had ropes up on Send Me on My Way as well as Rat Stew so we go to knock those out with no leading pressure.
As is anyone's first trip to the red, we made our way to Miguel's for pizza after the long day to bounce back for a solid Sunday. That evening we enjoyed the pond and amenities offered by Lago Linda, some cabin beers, and scoped out what we'd like to hit for the next day. Muir was out of the question since we had Kosar with us know, so PMRP it is.
We hiked into the Golden Coast to start Sunday, and decided on 7/11 to start our day. This tricky face climb had awkward stances to clip, and only after finishing the route and struggling thru sections did the name 7/11 (5.7 or 5.11 depending on which part of the route you use and protect) begin to make sense. We eased up next and put up Lucky Duck Soup and then wrapped up on Love Potion #9. The slopey bulges certainly put us to the test on the latter, along with a hornets nest near the top left us more than satisfied with what we had done for the weekend.
A new tradition was formed as well on this trip, at the end of each day while we're stuffing our faces or caressing an ice cold beer, we'd go over the following: what was the worst route of the day? What was the best route of the day? On the trip back even tho we were fatigued, we were giddy for the next trip, and since Nelson solidified he was less than fond of roped climbing, Stone Fort started to make it's way into our horizon.