Garden of the Gods Climbing

There has been some serious lacking of climbing in my life recently. And as I was laying in my bed thinking about this, I realized that I never posted photos from climbing in the Garden of the Gods.

I knew there was some good climbing in Colorado, and I didn't know how to contact any of the other bike mechanics I was going to be there with. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to find an awesome climber, named Patrick, in the Colorado Springs area on Mountain Project. I met up with Patrick twice while staying in the Springs, and both times we climbed in Garden of the Gods, which is really an obvious choice for any sort of geophile. If you haven't seen my previous post from the Garden of the Gods, get there. One night we met up with two other climbers, and spent the last hours of sunlight bouldering. The second time we went out for the day, on a crazy busy weekend. I've never told some many people how I got the rope up there. We climbed on a pair of 35 foot spires that I could belay from a sidewalk, it was an interesting experience to say the least. On the opposite of the spectrum, we hiked a mere 100 yards from the road and climbed an adventurous 3 pitch climb, and I felt like I was in the Cochise back country. The place continued to amaze me, and I'd go back in a heart beat, but I'd probably aim for a weekday.

Enjoy,
Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography

The Gunks

While home tried to climb as much as possible. Unfortunately I only got to spend one of those days up in the Shawangunks, or Gunks, outside of New Paltz, NY. The exposed cliff faces rise dramatically out of the trees just an hour north of New York City. The first routes were put up back in the 30's and the cliffs have continued to be a world famous trad climbing destination in the Northeast. I only had one friend to climb with, so we didn't get to take too many photos. Here is Garrett at the top of the second pitch of Classic(5.7)

Enjoy
Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography

Projecting Air Monsters(5.12-)

The following are a few shots of Conor projecting Air Monsters, a short overhung sport route near Windy Point on Mt. Lemmon, AZ. The majority of the climb is made up of very steep 5.9-10 climbing with a 12- crux, that is the beginning of a run out to the chains. Losing it at or above the crux gives the climb it's name. This was a project of Conor's during his brief trip to Tucson. Although he never got it clean, it'll without a doubt happen next time. Enjoy.

Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography

Climb Spree 5.11+

Prison Camp is a climbing area in the Catalinas here in Tucson. It isn't very far up on the Mt Lemmon Highway but its a canyon that runs east/west for the most part and doesn't get too much sun and has a pretty decent body of water flowing through it, so it's great to climb in even as we hit triple digits out here. The area got its name from the prison labor that was used to construct the original Hitchcock Highway that went up to the top of Mt Lemmon. It's since been renamed with a more "politically correct" name, Gordon Hirabayashi, but the climbers still know it as Prison Camp. The climbs there range the gambit from 5.7-5.12d, and everything in between. There is a north facing wall, about 45-50ft tall that has a selection of sport and trad climbs that are all in the 10-12d range, it makes a great test piece.

Here are a few shots of Mike "Danger" Cutshall, and Derek Anderson sending Climb Spree(5.11d). The route is sustained 5.11+ climbing with a 5.12- start, and is now on my to do list.

Enjoy
Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography

Just A Reminder

...Gri Gris are not auto-locking devices. The cam in the device is just a brake assist, you must always keep at least one had on the brake end of the rope. With that said, accidents happen in climbing, like we always hear, "climbing is an inherently dangerous sport." We do it, and we all accept the risks, and no one is ever to blame when accidents happen.

Today was a great day of climbing. Some great photos were taken, two of my friends sent a new route each, and I continued a project of mine. However, there was a accident at the end of the day, when we were all beat. Luckily everyone is alright, and will climb another day.

Climb hard, climb safe,
Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography

Just a Reminder

I know a lot of you check out my blog, but have you seen my website? It's true that the latest is on my blog but there are hundreds more on my website. Feel free to look through the galleries, as well as the "For Sale" galleries for prints you can order right through my website. You can pay securely through PayPal with either a PayPal account or with a credit card. Shipping for the prints is a flat $5. Also, any of my images are for sale, so if you see one on the blog, or in a gallery on the site, just let me know which image it is and an approximate size and I'll let you know what available and for what price.

Thanks for checking my stuff out.
Tyler Gates
Good Life Photography