So we're back now from our 2 week trip to Arkansas, and Hueco Tanks. The trip overall was sick, filled with good boulders, decent weather(in arkansas), and good friends.
It was me, kasia, Isabelle, Nate Drolet, Brion Voges, Hailey, and Brad Weaver. and later met up with Ben Tsui, and Jon Gass.
We first set off to the ranch in Jasper, AR.
First day was way too damn cold. High of 26 with 15mph winds = FUCK NO!
2nd day was much nicer and we strolled out to Fred's Cave, where i spent most of the time filming and hangin out.
Brad Weaver was there in full effect, and was taking down everything! Sending Fred's Roof v10 in a few tries. and quickly dispatching One Inch Pinch, v12 in similar fashion! Voges also snagged an ascent of the One inch pinch, ripping off all of his fingers, again, while doing it.
After this Voges and i trucked on out to Wood Grain Grippin for my second round of attempts. Needless to say i was fucking syked!! I quickly was able to link the boulder to the large throw to the pinch(which i was unable to do before) but unfortunately 10 more minutes later my wrist was too tweaked to even try it again.. Voges, ripped up and sore from Freds cave, quickly worked through all the moves like a G. We are VERY syked to return!
The rest of the trip in AR was decent, the weather seemed to be disagreeing with us, and i spent a day hiking all over a mountain trying to find Forever Botany, and another day/ hour trying Lost in the Hood in the rain, which ended with a spit tip... no bueno.
So with the weather on the ish we decided to head on out to Hueco.
Day 1:
Voges and I warmed up, and quickly dispatched El Techo V11, which is now MUCH easier due to a recent break.
Kasia and Isabelle also sent Roughage v7, and Nate did a cool one called Slip it In, V7.
After this Me and Voges ran over to Diaboliquie V13. I was syked on this one, after getting agonizingly close last season!
So after coming really close, falling again BARELY on the last move, i split yet another tip on my right hand.. sooo bummed. After this the boulder did not seem to work with a taped tip.
Day 2:
Again we hiked over to Diabolique. Voges was syked, and was able to send in just a few tries! I again punted.. and was NOT syked.. DONE!
After this i was in need of some redemption, and wanted to hike up to the martini cave and try Nalle's new sit start to dirty martini on the rocks called Tequilla Sunrise, v12. First try i stuffed the heel in a big hueco and fell off the first move. 2nd try instead of a heel, i tried the toe and almost did the first move! Then third try with toe again i sunk the first edge and sprinted to the top. Very syked on the quick ascent!
Kasia was then syked to try Black Mamba, v9.. which she was able to crush quickly!
The rest of the day I spent resting, filming, and soaking in the sun.
Day 3:
We went to East Mtn, with Toshi, Keita, and others. I was syked to get on a boulder that Nick Duttle had recently established called Sunshine, V12, and despite it baking in the sun, i was able to hook it up in about 20 min.
Meanwhile, Voges and Toshi gave some very close attempts on slashface, falling on the last moves!
Afterwards we all hiked over to the Dragons Den. Ben Tsui ran up a couple of classics on the hobbit boulder, and kasia climbed Hobbit in a blender, V5. Then Voges and I were syked on Full throttle V13! Unfortunately i was again dissapointed hoping that my foot hand shrunk so i could fit into the crucial heel toe.. but that was a negative. Voges got syked though, and worked out all the moves quickly, and returned twice determined to send! Which he did on our very last day! Sick fucking effort buddy. Props!
Day 4:
We went to the Spur! I tried the machinist v13 a little, and did all the moves quick! We then went over to the egg, v8. where Nate was syked and sent in a few tries. Then just up the way, nate and isabelle worked out all the moves on Purple Flowers, v9.. while kasia worked out the lowstart Flower power, v10. And later on isabelle was able to dispatch Mr. Serious, V8 at the end of the day!
Day 5:
Was back at the spur where i tried the machinist sum more, and sadly enough i broke a crucial hold on the end of the rail.. BUMMER.. After this Nate and isabelle sent purple flowers, and kasia got REALLY close on the low.
I went on to send A single Word, a really nice v12 on the tip of the spur.. and we finished off the day chillin in the gunks!
Day 6( Last Day):
Ended up to be a VERY good day for everyone!! We warmed up and i was able to dispatch Chbalanke v11(NEMESIS).. and isabelle followed close behind! Sending her first 8a.. absolute sickness!!! Then we went over to Power of Silence, so kasia, isabelle, and jon could work on that. Having already done that boulder i decided to get on Sarah V11.. and surprisingly was able to send 1st try.
Then it was off to the chains so Nate could try Fern Roof, v8 and i could try the low start, v13. Nate sent in a few tries, and i followed close behind! We then hiked over to guns of navarone, jon quickly flashed that shit and we were off to try Jason kehl's new tufa boulder, bloodline, v7. Kasia, isabelle and I both sent.
Meanwhile, nate was syked on big nosed miley v9/10.. so we hiked over and met up!
I was then able to repeat bleeding brothers, v12 and Nate got really close on the miley.. but with the darkness closing in we had to bail.
Trip over, and trip was good!!
Why the hell can't we have an el pecito here in chattanooga....
Oh well.
Vids n shit to come soon!
Jweb
