rhyang wrote: Joshua Tree National Park (Nov)
Mr. Misty Kiss (5.7 - 5.8 )

Hey Rob, Mr. Misty Kiss was THE hardest 5.7 I did last year. I remember doing it at the end of a hot day last April. I was hot and tired and nearly greased out those slick jams. After that I knew it was time to head down to CrossRoads for a cold one

My most memorable climbing moments in 2010 were the ones that pushed me to (and beyond) my limits and opened my eyes to future possibilities;
1. Getting dragged up Valhalla at Suicide Rock. It took me several tries and it wasn’t pretty, but final got all the moves. Now I got to lead it – 2011 goal

2. Struggling up the ~15’ OW section at the top of the money pitch on Mithral Diherdal on Mt Russell….did I mention that I suck at OW Somehow I managed to squirm and wiggle up the thing and was so exhausted that I couldn’t hang on to a perfect hand jam at the top of the OW section. I had to ‘take’ and catch my breath. I was breathing like a locomotive for at least 15 minutes and sucking every O2 out of that thin Sierra air. Although totally exhausted, I felt so alive and realized that I really suck at OW

Happy New Year's
Rick Graham

ps, did I mention that I suck at OW

Great stuff Rob!

I always like those afterglow moments...you've done a climb you've been wanting to do...maybe something you've been a bit scared of... and have done so with your favorite partner...you're talking about it...future climbs and trips...shit weather has moved in...you're eating breakfast & smiling...better than climbing itself in my book.

Cochise a few days ago:


EDIT IN:
& sometimes it's those little things, like clipping a bolt

^Stone mountain?

Naw, looks like Squamish on the Apron, based on the stone feature in the upper left hand corner.

it's stone. feature on left is top of the great arch route.

of course you are right since you posted the pictures,

didn't notice the "eyebrows" that are shown in mid picture,

minus the eye brows, looks a lot like the apron

I didn't get a lot of climbing in this year because I was trying to heal a bum shoulder. What I did get was all good. I certainly had the best week I have ever had in Tuolumne. We did many of the harder knob routes there culminating in the Bachar Yerian. On the way we did Shipoopi, Skeletor, all of the routes on East Cottage and many routes on Medlicott.

I also climbed local this year a great deal and spent a lot of time climbing pockets at Malibu State Park. Got some nice overhanging 11s and 12s.

I bouldered almost every Tuesday and Thursday all spring, summer and fall and did some nasty new thin problems.

Mostly though, I spent a lot of quality time with great friends! That is the part I wouldn't trade for anything!

That was actually much more of a zoo than I would have preferred. But it was nice to share the day, and all those people made for a great party that night.