Mt Kitchen

A 1-Day Indoor Ascent of Mt. Kitchen

 

Mt. Kitchen, 5.9+ V7-III = 5.Fun

Climber: Brad/Tracy

Photographer and Author: Tracy

Date: Pandemic

This is Brad.  He loves to climb rocks and mountains and spy on wildlife.  That’s literally all the guy does.  He decided to climb inside during the pandemic of 2020 and he brought me along to tell you how much fun it was.

 

 

 

Along the approach to Mt. Kitchen Brad reached the first obstacle, the Toaster Boulder V7.  It’s a lowball for sure but the crux is electrifying, hence the V7 rating. Here’s Brad inching towards the shocking crux with his left hand.  He sent it in style with his Black Diamond harness on backwards.

 

 

 

Then the second obstacle. No rating, just dirty.

 

 

 

While he waited for me to catch up, I caught him lounging around without a clue that a moose was right behind him.

 

 

 

He did however notice the bear.  Do not pet the bear!!!

 

 

 

Then a coyote walked by while the bear lurked. Brad was in wildlife spying heaven.

 

 

 

On to the climbing. Things got real quick!  Brad grunted a lot on the Stove Pitch.

 

 

 

But he got a pink Tricam in so everything was fine.  It’s not every day that you get to place a pink Tricam.

 

 

 

At the belay ledge he made a new friend.  Such a cheeseball.  You can see the Blender Pitch in the background.  It’s an inverted off-width.  

 

 

 

The Blender Pitch.  I was dreading it but he was fueled with testosterone or something.  He sent it and kept yelling, “Take that Pamela Shanti Pack!”. <insert meat grinder sounds>

He doesn’t look happy but said he really was.

 

 

 

This was my favorite pitch ever, the Microwave Handle Pitch.  It was kind of like Sister Squeeze before she…you know. RIP.  We also met the Russians here.  They hated chimneys so they opted for the face.  I love this shot of Boris on the face and Brad in the Chimney.  Bliss!

 

 

 

Inside Microwave Pitch. He hated it.  He didn’t know how to jam his hands in the tiny monos. I laughed.

 

 

 

Microwave Ledge Pitch. He was extra giddy up here.  I'm not sure why. He was Honnolding all over the route.  When I met him on the ledge, he was like, “Did you see what I was doing? I’ve loved that guy Alex since he soloed Moonlight Buttress. I'm just like Alex now!!"

 

 

 

Brad posing with his best “friend” on the chair pitch.  Cheesing as usual.

 

 

 

Refrigerator Pitch 1. Perfect #2 splitter.  The smile says it all.

 

 

 

 

Fun on Refrigerator Pitch 2.  The  showoff kept squeeling, " Look at me! Dan Osmon in the hizzie!!!!!!"

 

 

 

The feet on the 3^rd pitch of the Refrigerator were excellent. See the exposure?

 

 

 

On the summit cheering on the Russians.  You can see the “easy” blender pitch below. 

 

 

 

Victory!!!

 

Cheese!

 

 

 

Gazing at Longs and Pagoda from the summit.

 

 

 

 

 

New friends around the fire.  Brad’s telling everyone about the splitter on the Fridge and how happy he is that we stayed in during the pandemic.

 

 

He’s so happy.  Climbing indoors  can befun!

 

 

 

The End

 

 

Images

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