Brinton's Buttress 2-1-09

We finally got some warmer weather to climb in during this snow-filled, negative degree, winter. Paul and I were gunning for Saturday, but we both got a cold during the week and felt like crap on Saturday. Sunday's weather still looked great. I woke up on Sunday and said to myself "Screw this crap, I want to climb!!!" I called Paul up at 7:30am and he was down for the climbins. We met up at the Johnson Creek park-and-ride at 10am and sped to The Lake. We saw 2 bald eagles when we drove past Devil's Head. When we arrived at the lake, to our suprise, the CCC trail was very nicely grooomed, making an easy approach.

We passed 2 other climbers that had a TR setup on Sometimes Crack. A short few steps later and we arrived and Brinton's Buttress. I geared up for my winter onsite of Brinton's Crack. I must say, it was one of the best 5.6 leads I have done. Hands down. The friction was great and the climbing was so much fun. I setup a TR and rapped down to let Paul climb. He climbed Brinton's Crack with ease.

We took a short break (safety meeting) and I roped up for Brinton's Direct. I was amazed at the movement and overall quality of the climb. During the crux, I thought to myself "This sure is a pumpy 5.8, feels more like 5.9" Typical Devil's Lake 5.8 . Paul climbed it after me and we took another short break. I then roped up for Chiaroscuro. Again, amazed at how great this climb was. The movement was so pleasing to pull. The rock was as good as it gets, and again, friction was great. After flashing Chiaroscuro on TR, Paul had a go at it, and flashed it as well. After Paul reached the ground, another Bald Eagle flew right next to us. That just made the day. 3 amazing climbs and some great wildlife. God I love the Lake.