I have no idea who these dudes are. But when..... A.) the base of your climb is an hour hike in. B.) your approach navigates open water creek beds, a steep icy gully, and third class rock. C.) you can't even see the climb from the road, and D.) two guys roll in wearing suits, ties, and dress shoes.......... you break out the camera. Hard. Core. Missionaries.

Two of the toughest climbers I've ever met. One on pitch, and the other waiting below.

The Benefits to Guiding

Anya topping off Two Cold to Fire.

Aaron on the upper flight paths of The Testament.

We were 6 miles in right here where we ran into a pack of 6 wolves. We fought them off with our bare hands and then climbed "The Testament" on the left and "The Wolf" on the right.

Starting up The Wolf. My car is at the end of the canyon, on the other side of the mountain.

Finishing up The Wolf

Dr. West Virginia trying to fit in with the Cody locals on the third pitch of Broken Hearts.

Danaher finishing his lead on Stringer.

Gary Sieflick starting up Stringer.

Art Walk Showing

Yup, we're doing it, and we're doing it with style. 35 images from this website have been blown up to 11x14 or larger, some at 20x30! Prints are done. I'm currently framing and putting together some narration and explanation to go along with the photos. Drinks, good music, it's gonna be awesome. CTA Billings Office, December 7th, 5pm - 9pm. If you miss the party, the work should be up for another week, just call ahead and stop by the office.

It's Cody Time

Snuck down to Cody for a little Sendero Illuminoso. Aaron on the ice, Joel on the ropes, and Anya on the camera.

Anya coming up the last 20 feet.

Break (dance) Time

Out to Lunch. Check back in a couple weeks. Work, Travel, Team, Routesetting. We'll get back to the Alpine Life when we're good and ready. In the meantime check out the SteepTeam site.

More photos from the spire.

Joel leading through the crux of pitch 2.

Joel hauling the pack on pitch 3

Storm Spire

Our camp with Storm Spire looming 900 feet above us. Our seven pitch route took the north face directly up out of the lake. I should have a couple more good photos from some of the other pitches in the next week or two.

Daniel starting up the first pitch of seven.

The Doctor coming up the wandering fith pitch.

The Doctor, Daniel, and Monseur Danaher on the summit preparing for descent.

Summit Cowboy

Proud

Hiking in to camp with our objective ridgeline looming above right. A storm struck us within a ropes length from the top and we spent the next 3 hours descending the north face.

Anya nearing the summit of the large gendarme, about an hour before the storm, and 11 rappels.

Daniel and I turned around on our line up Inabnit and all we got was this photo and some sore feet.

The Standard Shot of Whitetail

Whitetail Peak and it's northeast ridge on the left, the basin of the West Fork of Rock Creek on the right.

Camp.

Summit shot, 6:32 in the morning.

Two Cent Tower Reprise

Looking down the tower from the top of the third pitch. The west fork valley expanding below.

D-Man coming up the classic third pitch.

Wild Bill's Buttress

The first two pitches were a little messy but the 160' 3rd pitch to the summit was worth the effort.

Joel getting prepared for the roof and sweet hand crack on the upper headwall pitch.

Nate getting a dose of some Beartooths exposure.

Hmm, we just forded a river and now we have to hike up this stuff? Approaching the Shark's Fin for an 800 foot 5 pitch route.

The first pitch, 200 feet of slabs, wet cracks, and overhangs. Joel in the middle of a Space Odyssey.

Above the crux of pitch 3 dancing up the open book to the belay.

The Doctor of Medicine leading pitch 4 into the chopping block.

I seem to think we've see something similar to this before.

Team Website

A link to the Billings Climbing Team Website has been added to the sidebar.

Game On

It's been too long. The climbing team has wrapped up for the season and I'm full of new ideas for next season, but for now I've got to do some climbing! Anya and I went up and spent the weekend at Mystic Lake with a basecamp full of buddies that tried to fish the lake dry. We climbed this alpine face we've been calling the Mystic Pillar on Sunday. A nice long moderate route.

Anya on the rock rib mid way up

Joel navigating the second ice pitch

Anya pulling through the last few technical moves to the summit

Obigatory view from the top

Organic

A friend of mine from high school started Organic Climbing a few years ago and this winter his crash pad recieved the "Editor's Choice" from Climbing Magazine. Go Helke! Organic Climbing.

Peak made of Granite

Seftibach, Anya, and I trundled around Mystic Lake wondering why it was so warm for a couple days.

Walking around.

Gotta love the bushwacking.

My Mountain Jacket

Kenny, Joel, and Aaron keeping things classy at the Cody Ice Festival two weeks ago.

Anya sweating the river crossing.

Angie's Falls in the Beartooths this Saturday.