New Jack City - Trip Report
Martha & I met at 7am and took off to climb at my favorite chosspile. I drove the Subi down to NJC as we bantered off and on about ourselves. Martha is new to climbing, and has all the nice, but none of the annoying characteristics associated. This was her first real climbing trip, outside of a few field exercises included as part of her attendance in a summer mountaineering class.
I was excited when we showed up and there were no ropes on the Boy Scout Wall. I wanted to start off on BSW so I could watch Martha as she practiced cleaning the anchors & rappelling. By the time we walked over there, a party had just started up one of the routes. No biggy, ropegun Clare jumped on an adjacent climb and started upwards.
In the course of the next hour, a group of 12 people descended on us, and soon there were ropes swinging down from the top of the crag as vines in a jungle. A loud, smoking group of obnoxious Koreans! They wouldn’t even share their Kim Chee with me. Geesh.
We climbed 4 routes and then we took off for Raven Rocks (not as crowded due to heat from the sun!). We climbed Little Red Book to end the day. We were going to climb another but waited a millisecond too long to throw our ropebag at the base. Sick of the crowds, disgusted by the smoke, and worn out by the sun, we left for home.
Martha did a great job climbing her first day. Lessons were learned on the spot, and new skills were incorporated immediately, and her cheerful exuberance was nice to be around. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her!