Pulling Cobbles

Hey folks! I've got another trip report for you. This time it involves actual climbing. Not that my non-climbing trips aren't amazing.... The climbing trips are just my favorite.  A couple weekends ago, the kiddos and I joined some friends down in Maple Canyon for a weekend of climbing. After 3 yrs of living in Utah and climbing, I couldn't wait any longer to see this place I'd heard so much about.

Well... I wasn't disappointed. After getting lost more times than I care to mention on the way there, we were rewarded with amazing conglomerate pillars and canyons. Conglomerate is basically (as I explained it to my kids) lots of little rocks stuck together to make a huge rock. (The pictures should help you interpret my silly explanation, lol.) The climbing is completely different than anything I had EVER done before. Although I have been climbing quite a bit this year already, I haven't been climbing "hard" or really pushing myself yet. And Maple rewarded me with a big 'ole slice of humble pie.

I was lucky enough to be in Maple with people that climb harder than me and I took advantage of that opportunity to push (or try to push) my climbing grade. I probably should've warmed up on something I could actually climb, but I was so excited I decided to top rope the first climb we got on. Poop Chute (a 5.10d)  in the Pipeline area of Maple was the lucky route for me. After getting used to the feel of the rock and flailing around through the first hard moves, I was so pumped that I peeled off the rock. This I discovered would be the norm for me during this trip.

Ava getting chalked up to try

So after that route we decided something more kid-friendly (aka Haley friendly...) would be better and headed over to the Schoolroom area. We decided since the whole area was empty to set up 2 top ropes so the kids could do some climbing too. I ended up leading one route, an easy 5.7, not even sure which route it was since there were routes that weren't listed in the guidebook or on Mountain Project. Regardless, it helped me to gain some confidence back. That confidence was short lived however. After top roping another "5.7" that felt more like a 5.9, I was extremely pumped and wondering who these sadists were that rated some of these climbs...

Lil Guy pulling cobbles

After we were done climbing, we decided to hike Box Canyon before it got dark. Box Canyon is an absolutely gorgeous, privately owned, conglomerate canyon. The owners are gracious enough to allow climbers and hikers access though. The first step into the canyon is just amazing, you're surrounded by cobbles in almost every direction. After some hiking and climbing up to a huge cave we headed back to the campsite for a dinner of salmon and potatoes (roasted over the campfire) that would make #ClimbChat proud.

Box Canyon

After a chillier than expected night and lots of snuggling with the kiddos, we woke up to another gorgeous day.  After some breakfast and packing up camp, it was time for some more climbing.  We hiked up to the Oxygen wall to take advantage of the sun and warm up. We supposedly climbed 2 5.9's but again I can't find them on Mountain Project. The first one I did was nothing special, though it was a hard climb, I even completely slipped off the rock at one point. The second was fun and had much more positive holds than the first, but was slightly less than vertical. I managed to finish it without peeling off, but my forearms had had enough at that point.

So even though I was completely humbled by the climbing, I had an amazing time. I'm now determined to focus on getting stronger so I can go back and show these cobbles who's boss. This was a new style of climbing that put me completely out of my comfort zone, but I'm not letting that stop me from enjoying it.

Do you prefer to stay in your "Comfort Zone"

or do you like to walk on the wild side??

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