February 18, 2023
Met up with Daniel for the first time to climb at T-Wall. We carpooled from the Walmart parking lot. Weather was ideal, with clear skies and highs in the mid-50's.
People's Express (5.10a/b) - Daniel's lead. Crux was down low at the mini roof. He used a #5 to protect it, then mantled out right. Another possibility would have been to stay left using the face holds/pocket. The middle of the climb was also tricky/balancy.
Open Sesame (5.9-) - My lead. Exciting below and getting out of the smaller second cave. Also exciting traversing under roof at the top. This climb felt Full value for the grade.
Stepping Stone (5.10a/b) - Daniel's lead. This one has a hard sequence at the bottom with thin protection, but it doesn't really let up tremendously even after this low crux.
Hungry for Heaven (5.10+) - My lead. I fell at the crux right above the dish. This climb felt harder than I expected and was exciting the whole way. I have to admit I was disappointed not to make a clean send, as I have climbed this clean once before.
Stone Wave (5.11a) - Dan's lead. Stick clip a nut into the crack down low. Then pull up the rack once you are established near the nut. Move at the start is hard V3. Put feet far out left and high, pull up, reach for a small knob up and left, then push off/mantle with the right hand. The finger section two thirds of the way up is really tenuous, too. It would be great to make this a project.
Finger Lockin' Good (5.10b/c) - My lead, and it spat me off. This was a real fall fest for me - I took a big whipper above my second cam placement (black alien) and almost hit the deck. So glad Daniel is such a good belayer! I was clearly tired from all the other climbing we had done earlier, and after the fifth piece of pro I just gave up and came down. This was especially disappointing as I have climbed this one clean in the past after projecting it. It would be great to set up a toprope on this climb and just do laps to practice finger crack techniques.
