Zero Endurance
It is amazing how much rock is in Utah. I have been climbing 4 years (this season will be my 5th season) and there are still canyons I have yet to explore. I finally made it to Echo a couple weekends ago with Screamer, Mr. Math (who will from here on out be called Bold-er), Barlow and new friend Adam.
The rock in Echo is similar to that of Maple and lower City Creek, being a conglomerate composition with medium sized stones. Conglomerate does not make up my favorite rock lines as it is anything but aesthetic; however, the routes are usually pretty good for re-gaining endurance, of which I currently have none.
Adam climbing at the Main Wall.
We climbed a bit at the Main Wall, where I was introduced to a real fun, boudery 12a (thanks to Screamer for throwing up a top rope for me), and then we ran a couple lines at the Echo cave.
Barlow and Screamer hanging out at the Main Wall.
The day was so enjoyable besides one weird incident. I have no idea the reasoning, but there were 5 dead animals along the 15 minute trail up to Echo Cave. These weren’t just any animals, but rather one buck deer, two doe deer, an elk and a huge moose. All of which were just along the trail (if not right on the trail) without any sign of hunters or reason for death. Anyone know a probable cause?
Tags: climbing, Echo Canyon, utah
May 15th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Me thinks the harsh winter did the over populated game in. The previous 3 winters were relatively mild, so populations were not kept in check. So this winter when they went to drink in the crik, they were not strong enough to get out…now we must dry heave on an approach to climb local stone.
May 16th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Well, I didn’t see it, and I don’t know what it’s like in Utah. In Colorado, we see a fair bit of big game laid out by trails in the spring when people are hunting illegally. The hunters will go through at night with spot lights, which make the deer freeze and make them easy to kill. Then they lay them out for pictures and leave them there. It’s crude and disgusting, really. And, if the wound is on the ground-side of the animal, you might not notice it.