Dan's Blog

Me on Animal Acts V5

Happy late New Year!

So for Christmas this year, I got a trip to Hueco Tanks National Park, Texas for a present! And it is the best present to get ever. I just wish I could have gotten more time to stay!

Corry Cummings, Dan Baker (a friend I went to Rocky Mountain National Park with a lot this summer) left for the Tanks on Monday early in the morning. We got to Hueco at midnight and found a spot to camp that probably wasn't a camp spot. We moved to an actual spot next morning, an WENT CLIMBING! We went to East Mountain, which had the project that was on the top of my list; Power Of Landjager (V11) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4sdmg16EKk). But we started out warming up at a problem called Uncut Yogi. But it was a V6, so it wasn't a very good warmup. After a few bad attempts, I decided to save my self for later climbs, but Dan sent it! We went to the Maze which had a ton of problems, but we were there for a guy that wanted to work on Nagual (V13). It was pretty cool watching him work it, but there was no send! Cory, Dan, and I worked on a 9 I tried 2 years ago called Glas Roof. Cory and I were having troubles, but Dan was making good progress. But we had to leave so he didn't get to send. We made our way to Power of Landjager. There was a couple other guys working on it, but they didn't stay long. I stuck the first part of the crux twice, which made me extremely happy. Only problem was my skin was hurting, and I was getting bruised tips on the fingers I had to use on a sharp crimp. If I had more time, and more tougher skin, I could have sent! Our guide was really cool! His name was Cory, and it was his first time guiding, but he did a good job. Next day was a North Mountain day! North Mountain is a sector that you guide yourself. I had only one climb on my mind: See Spot Run. See Spot Run is a 25 ft tall V6 classic of Hueco Tanks. Luckily, there was a ton of people there so we had literally a gym floor of pads. Dan and I got on a couple times, and shortly after Dan sent. Then I sent! Cory gave it a few goes, but no go :(. After that, I told Dan he had to get on another classic called Baby Face (V7). I did it two years before when I went and it was the first V7 I ever did, so I was really excited for Dan and Cory to get on it. We hiked over with a few of the guys we worked See Spot Run with, and got to work. Well, they did. I got on top of a boulder with my camera to take a photos.

Dan on Baby Face V7

Cory on Baby Face V7

No sends though. Which is kind of a bummer. I was sure that Baker was going to send it. Baker and Cory wanted to go to Martini roof (I think) to work on a problem. There was a really strong chick working on Esperanza (V14). Baker started to try Baby Martini (V6) and was looking really solid. But I don't remember if he sent or not. Cory got on it too, but due to an ab injury (Baker turtled him and he tweaked his ab), he couldn't really try much. After a little bit, we left. Enjoyed a normal night of hanging out, but I went to bed. Next morning, we went to East Spur I think. The previous night, Baker and Cory met a really cool couple from Australia that was in our group! We got to try Better Eat Your Wheaties (V8). Vince (guy from Australia) sent! Baker and I tried a couple times, but no go. Then we went to Animal Acts, which is a cool V5 and a Hueco classic! I got on and did it first go. Baker did it too. Cory didn't get to, because of his janked ab. We left and went to another boulder that had a really long roof with a V6 on it I think. Baker really wanted to do it, but it started SNOWING!! So we left. By the time we got back to camp, there was about 4 inches of snow on our tents. We brushed it all off, and departed back for home. We snagged a little hotel in El Paso, then left on New Years day. We didn't want to drive ALL the way back to Casper, so we stayed at Cory's relative's house. And enjoyed a little New Years partying. But the next day, we made it back home. I miss Hueco!!!!