That was a cool TR to read, kept me gripped reading it. I have been up Round Top many times in the past, but never in winter. What a great peak in an awesome setting. Which aspect of the peak was your new route? Keep up the great writing.
How hard was it actually? Any grades?
It's a nice trip report, I just wonder if the route was really so excting or maybe we should credit that to your writing skills that you managed to picture an average climb as sth really special and a nearly death experience?
Anyway, good read, thanks for sharing.
I think that the point of the story was more to relate the experience itself than to spew numbers. It was certainly exciting to us- what I was trying to relate. Route itself? Definitely NOT a classic, as I also attempted to relate. As I responded to another, similar inquiry, I think it is inherently difficult to grade something where the rock is so bad- it just isn't comparable to defining something that has good quality rock (or ice or snow), for not only reasons of protection, but also for not being able to trust holds the same way you would for solid rock that would actually hold when you pull or step on it. You can check out the route description I typed up for a more numerical answer to your question. If you lived closer, I'd recommend hopping on it yourself- I would love to hear what someone else's opinion of the actual climb is. Cheers!
Enjoyed all the commentary about your thoughts during the climb. Don't see that a lot and it reminded me of Joe Simpson's honest writing style. Way to go. Fantastic read and congratulations on your climb.
Diggler - Jan 25, 2010 4:07 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Congrats!Thanks, Mark. Glad you made it back from the weekend intact. Hope you can make it this weekend- need to just figure out the details.
woodsxc - Jan 25, 2010 11:27 am - Voted 10/10
Wow!Ballerness. Pure and simple.
Diggler - Jan 25, 2010 4:08 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Wow!Either that or just bad decision making :) Sometimes hard to know which is which. Thanks for the vote!
Frostbite - Jan 25, 2010 2:04 pm - Voted 10/10
excellent!You had me at rocks,paper,scissors all the way to Pink Floyd!
What a great read Dirk! (& Rob)
Diggler - Jan 25, 2010 3:57 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: excellent!Thanks Bill- glad you enjoyed. Hope to come up to OR again this year for some more volcanoes- hopefully we can meet up!
Diggler - Jan 26, 2010 7:39 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Cool!Thanks, Lolli. Glad you enjoyed it!
wyopeakMike - Jan 25, 2010 6:58 pm - Voted 10/10
awesome readThat was a cool TR to read, kept me gripped reading it. I have been up Round Top many times in the past, but never in winter. What a great peak in an awesome setting. Which aspect of the peak was your new route? Keep up the great writing.
Diggler - Jan 26, 2010 7:43 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: awesome readThanks for the compliments! Glad you enjoyed. The route goes up the E face, eventually meeting up with the N ridge.
rlshattuck - Jan 25, 2010 7:26 pm - Hasn't voted
I can stop sweating now . . .riveting report!
Diggler - Jan 26, 2010 7:46 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: I can stop sweating now . . .Glad you liked it, Bob.
Petro - Jan 28, 2010 5:30 pm - Hasn't voted
Good route or good writing?How hard was it actually? Any grades?
It's a nice trip report, I just wonder if the route was really so excting or maybe we should credit that to your writing skills that you managed to picture an average climb as sth really special and a nearly death experience?
Anyway, good read, thanks for sharing.
Diggler - Jan 28, 2010 7:51 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Good route or good writing?I think that the point of the story was more to relate the experience itself than to spew numbers. It was certainly exciting to us- what I was trying to relate. Route itself? Definitely NOT a classic, as I also attempted to relate. As I responded to another, similar inquiry, I think it is inherently difficult to grade something where the rock is so bad- it just isn't comparable to defining something that has good quality rock (or ice or snow), for not only reasons of protection, but also for not being able to trust holds the same way you would for solid rock that would actually hold when you pull or step on it. You can check out the route description I typed up for a more numerical answer to your question. If you lived closer, I'd recommend hopping on it yourself- I would love to hear what someone else's opinion of the actual climb is. Cheers!
Brad Marshall - Jan 30, 2010 12:26 pm - Voted 10/10
Great ReportEnjoyed all the commentary about your thoughts during the climb. Don't see that a lot and it reminded me of Joe Simpson's honest writing style. Way to go. Fantastic read and congratulations on your climb.
Diggler - Feb 1, 2010 12:11 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Great ReportThanks, Brad. Glad you liked it.