Friday, March 23, 2012

Trango!

Exhausted.
I have just returned from an exhausting 6 day course with eight 7th graders.  We explored the canyons of Utah while shivering in our sleeping bags through unexpected snow and 12 degree temperatures.  It was awesome.  The kids' attitude and willingness to push on was impressive!!

Skyline traverse of the Organ Mountain.


Previous to that, I had a climbing-packed, month long road trip throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah.  Wes and I attempted a traverse of the Organ Mountains near Las Cruces, a long day of many ups and downs.  Our planned bivy was awesome, but an unplanned flu for Wes forced us down on day two.  The descents of each individual peak (something like 16 in all if completed) were the most time consuming.  Overall, a good trip.  We replaced a lot of webbing, sussed out the many rappels, etc.  We started up Gertch's Folly, the buttress in the left side of the photo, and traversed across about 1/2 way before descending down a horrific cactus ridden gully.  Reading summit logs further along the traverse, it seems another party has attempted (unsuccessfully?) from the other direction. 

Messing around on an upper pitch of Lonestar! 
In Nevada, I spent two weeks in Red Rocks.  Highlight climbing was an adventurous route in Black Velvet Canyon--- Texas Hold 'em to Texas Tower Direct, to Lonestar (a different version of "3 of a kind").  All together a 21 pitch day by the book.  My partner Luke and I linked and stretched as many pitches as possible, some spicy pitches--some stellar! 

From there the road trip was to bring me back home to Colorado.  One of my favorite climbing partners, Prairie and I, stopped for a quick morning climb in Zion.  Our drive was to take us from Vegas through Zion, Monument Valley and Grand Gulch.  I wanted to check out water and road conditions of the canyon I would be guiding.

Prairie and her Elvis climbing attire!
In Zion, Prairie and I climbed the Headache and the Migraine.  Wes and I simul-climbed the Headache a few years ago, but it was nice to take my time---enjoy the stellar climbing!

All this climbing talk brings me to some exciting news!  I have been climbing my heart out for over a decade and this February I applied to be a Trango athlete.  Trango weeded through a bazillion applications of more accomplished and much stronger climbers, and yet chose me to represent them!!!!

I am thrilled to be apart of this Colorado based and thoughtful company.  I am over-joyed to share my passion with others, to be recognized as an ambassador for the sport, and to represent Trango!

Dan Gambino Photo





Thank you to everyone at Trango! (www.trango.com)!

This IPA is for you!