Hot Chicks and Stormy Afternoons from Mark Smiley on Vimeo.
This short video reminded me of the trip to Colorado when I climbed the Petite Grepon with Michael Franklin. A spectacular day, spectacular climbing, and a spectacular summit. Over two decades ago we met in RMNP for a week of climbing. Because it was in the 50 Classic Climbs, we anticipated a crowd and so bivied at the base of the route and planned to get up at first light. Well starting at 3:00 am, the first in a series of about a dozen people stepped over us, and so at dawn we headed to the valley and climbed outside Este Park. Later in the day we hiked back into our bivy, and even though we were on the climb at 4:30 am we almost got skunked by a party of two gals ... However we took an alternate line and raced them to the base of the final tower. Later that evening - in our sleeping bags - we listened all evening as a party rapped down the gully towards us - without headlamps - leaving their entire rack on the descent. At first light the next morning we scored some serious booty.
Posts
