Alpinism Home

My friend Mick was interested in climbing some aid routes so we made plans to spend a morning climbing the classic route City Park at the town walls in Index. We passed the "van down by the river" and turned into the parking lot joining a lonely Toyota truck. It appeared that we would have the route to ourselves Excellent! Of course, it was just after 6:00am on a Friday morning so we weren't excactly in danger of having to compete for the route.

I led the first pitch in an hour and 27 minutes. Each time, I get a little more efficient. Above the trees I could gaze across the valley to Mt Persis and Mt Index. Incredible! Instead of jugging the route, Mick re-climbed it as I belayed him up. I had forgotten my hammer at home so Mick had to use a rock to tap on his chock pick to loosen stubborn stoppers. At the end of the pitch Mick was not only very efficient at climbing in aiders, but also in the fine art of hammering with a rock!

After the double rope rappel we packed up and walked back to the car just as the rain began to fall. Perfect timing!