727's Logbook (9 ascents)

La verite c'est que je ne sais pas du tout quelles routes j'ai escale en fontainbleau. Je n'aviais aucune guide; j'ai pris le tren de Paris, j'ai loue une bici, j'y suis alle et j'ai escale de nombreux roches avant de partir.
And I saw some funky european furry deer pedaling back through the forest, which had just reopened after the first tornado to ever rip through the place.

Lovely little beach crag. Easy but fun routes...which is a good thing because how much do you really want to fall on those rusty old bolts? Finding this place helped make me feel better about visiting the LA area in general.

Love, love, love the route. Very slow followers (one had only climbed 6 times) and a late start due to rain put us on top at 2:30 a.m. Didn't really know the way down so we slept on our ropes and under a rope back and two American flags left at the summit (it's a grand old flag!). Good adventure, beautiful exposure, and excellent climbing and pro nearly the whole way.

Steep pockets are summer's answer to powder-filled moguls. Every route on this wall rules!!! Beautiful moves/holds. Just tough enough to be exhilarating.

Well, I almost climbed it. Got right next to the chains, totally pumped out, and fell 20' (belay had a bit too much slack out) which made it very exciting. Had time to yell "Falling!" and then "Catch me!" after feeling the rope whipping through that top draw. This was on his rope, which was also good.

This is one of my all-time favorite climbing moments because it scared me bad and I climbed it anyway. I was brand new to friction, the evening desert wind was gusting at 80 mph, and the first bolt I saw from the base was over 30' up. When I paused for a heavy gust half way there, I found a bolt right at my nose, which was a great relief. Every time I paused to wait for the worst wind to pass, with my shirt whipping violently at my back, I'd have to keep stepping back up onto the slow timebomb feet. When I topped out, I had one of the most rewarding feelings I can remember. My buddy Eddie used to always quip "Fear is your friend!" I always disagreed, but it's a useful enemy.

Another favorite climbing moment. On a balmy (over 30 degree) January day, I stuck my fingers in a wet pocket just before the small roof and they went instantly numb. Pulling the roof on an inch-wide sloper was very exciting when I could not feel those fingers at all. I knew I had the hold because my hand stopped.
The name is long and pretentious, I thought, so we always shortened it to "Terminex."

Loved this route! The Black Face was by far the best pitch. If you skip the lower exum, you just miss it - why not do a quick top rope before hiking to the top? Got a bit dehydrated by the top with an accompanying headache - during the weeks of planning, I kept wishing the Grand was 60' higher to be the highest point in the state. at the top, i said "it's high enough."

My very first lead, and a good choice for it - not too easy for a beginner with that high sidepull reach near the top which also makes a rewarding finish. Oh, wait, I grabbed the bush in the "gully" to the right that first time up.