Bout up the 33
Ian and I climbed the Sespe wall in the late afternoon and ran up to Potrero John for a few short ones before sunset, but the Fortress stole IG's attention and up the loose stuff we went to the base of a very untrodden rock. In moments he laid out the approach, acquired the proper mental state and began the ground up race against the sun. Holds, rocks, sand and lichen showered me as I belayed him up this mysterious sandstone face. At the 7th bolt a bat shot out of the flake to his right and a hold blew out. What should have been a 15 foot fall became a 25 footer because the belayer fumbled. Determined to press on with a throbbing ankle, one easy fall later, Ian claimed what was probably a second ascent of what maybe called Rate of Unemployment 5.10+????. Night came down with him and a a call for celebration at the truck with colorado cool aid was essential. Good day, good climbing, good lessons and cheap beer
