Vertically Challenged: January 2012

The sun sets on our visit to Squamish. Its now back to the US - home of cheap food, climbing gear & petrol!

Having a blast at Mt St Helens on the drive back down to San Fran.

Hug a really big tree! The Redwoods in California.

Back into the Sierras in California waiting for the weather to improve. Mars catching dinner at Lake Sabrina.

Sunrise over our free camping in The Buttermilks.

Bouldering at The Buttermilks, Bishop, California.

Climbing at Daff Dome (Tuolumne Meadows, California) before the afternoon storms roll back in.

Fairview Dome, Tuolumne Meadows. Check out the smoooooth slabs in the foreground and the storm clouds in the background. The last place you want to be is on top of one of these domes in a storm! But how amazing are these formations?

Tuolumne Meadows, California.

In Yosemite! This is the truely breathtaking "El Capitan" 3000ft wall.

The crew enjoying a good old Aussie barbie in Yosemite.

Mmmmm..barbie....

The main walls at Smith Rock State Park - so much climbing to do there! The canyon gets sun until mid/late afternoon so its like an oven to climb in. I'm the little spec on the left climbing.

Mars & Eddy studying the guide book at The Lower Gorge, Smith Rock.

Mars leading Pure Palm (11a), Lower Gorge, Smith Rock.

Hilarious! If you see a cougar, make yourself appear large by holding small children.

Mars & Geoff Gledhill (from Aus) taking some time out at the crag at Skaha (Canada). Stone carved seats provided courtesy of the cliff.

Mars climbing one of the few trad lines at Skaha (British Columbia, Canada).

The amazing Grand Wall (left), The Dihederals (centre) and Tantalus Wall (right) of The Chief, Squamish BC. The campground & bouldering are in the forest directly below.

The full view of The Chief, including the North Walls, The Sherrifs Badge, The Apron & The Grand Wall, sitting above the town of Squamish.

Mars finishing off Exasperator 10c at the base of The Grand Wall, Squamish BC. Nothing exasperating about this climb! Over 55mtrs of clean hand & finger crack.

On Exasperator with the rest of The Grand Wall (Squamish) above...

Oh those smooth slab climbs (The Apron Wall, Squamish).

Victory portrait at the top of The Apron after topping out on Diedre (5.8). It was worth the 6am start.

Jamming on the Malamute (High Mountain Woody 5.9), Squamish. Super fun right above the water.

Action central! Mars going for a dyno on Titanic (V3) with Matt spotting (Grand Wall boulders, Squamish).

Bouldering under the beautiful forest canopy.

Getting some good Mojo for our day out climbing.

Cassie & Matts very sweet dog, Mojo (RIP)

The most amazing invention ever - the sun oven. Cassie & Matt from Utah have this amazing Sun Oven that bakes using the power of the sun only. We've been on the receiving end of some delicious sun cooked bagels, blueberry muffins & choc chip cookies.