Un named Basalt Ridge. Hayden, Colorado.

                The Pictures below are a little grainy- regardless of that, they document a great trip to Colorado.  We were staying in what could accurately be described as "God forsaken" and/or " God Blessed."   The location is North of Hayden, Colorado....which is west of Steamboat.  This was the first opportunity that i have had to take my kids climbing outside or real stone.  Both of them thought it was fun, and perhaps even really got into it? 

We took a hike to a large basalt ridge that is about two miles in length and of variable quality. I would not suggest this place as a destination for rock climbing. Actually i would discourage it...especially in Colorado a state in which there is such a high quantity of high quality sites.  However, because we could walk to this ridge it made an easy target. 

View of Ollie surmounting the final buldge to the summit.  The south face of this ridge, at this point is probably 150 feet or so.  It is situated very high on a hill, so the exposure is great.

Looking East down the ridge from the summit.

A spot we called " the red face"  probably 5.2 or so

The base of the Red Face. I brought along a belay device, but the hip belay really proved to be more useful.

The rack i brought along was very minimal. 25 foot of static rope. 2 harnesses, 1 belay device, 5 random nuts, two cams and 4 biners. I was not about to try the large face with out some serious cleaning. The Basalt on this ridge is choss at best.

My boy got his first lead in. granted it was a traverse..but he lead it none the less.

He placed gear and everything.

A number of random pics

Large bugs, banks that if cleaned up, could be sweet skate spots in kalamazoo and grand haven, twelve gage bar ends for scott bars, and stickers available for a SASE.

This bank sits unused while skateboarders do kick flips in an empty lot across the street.

This one would need some work...but would be worth it.

Paying the Price of radness

   Paid the price of radness at Charlotte Skate Park. The video emphasizes how lame my skating is.  I was skating pretty well before i got my trucks hung up and smashed my face.

5 stitches later- essentially 100 dollars per stitch.  Price of radness = 500 dollars.

Henderson neighborhood sliding.

Skating by your self isn't that great for filming.

I was working on my coleman slides, and i am getting the hang of it..

The neighborhood around the henderson castle is a great place for me to longboard- close to home and it an evening cruz here is like a great evening ski...a little bit of work..a little bit of fun.

Upjohn skatepark...stoke killers strike.

Waking up early one morning and coming down to the local skate park and finding it covered with sand and new graffiti led me to believe one thing....that some knucklehead middle school age student came in and tagged and then....just to add emphasis to the anti-skater sentiment of the tags....threw sand everywhere.  

This of course made the park completely un-skateable.  Turns out....it was actually the contractors who were let in to sand blast the graffiti off....they did this on International Go Skate day.....and then left all the freakin sand in the bowl...so you still couldn't skate it the day after...or the day after.

talk about killing the stoke.

especially with sand everywhere. 

exactly how i felt after getting ready for dawn patrol, having the park to myself...only to find it covered in sand.

Grand rapids buildering

            Walking around downtown Grand Rapids will give the urban climber a lot of dreams. These photos are from the public library and show two excellent routes. Both are probably 80 feet in length, with excellent foot and hand holds. While some buildering projects
      these just scream out to be climbed. I am not sure i have the nuts to do it, i would expect that arrest is likely...but these are maybe 5.4...easy pickings. Of course a fall would kill you...but that is to be expected from a blog with this title.

Each of these prominent ridges are positive holds...a virtual ladder. 

Start in the the corner and gain the ledge for a no hands rest.  girdle your loins for the next pitch.

From the ledge, proceed up and right taking rests in window ledges, or choosing a single push to the summit.

this inside corner and face climb is probably 60 feet of fun, nice rest at 20 feet.  Summit at the roof.

1999 Subaru = fun Engine

        Letting this car go was very sad.  It certainly was beat up. Both drivers smashed into things with it, the bumpers had the droop, but it was super fun to drive. Like a go cart that kicks ass in snow.  The radio sucked though..should have mentioned that in the add.

Subaru Impreza Outback sport - $700 (Kalamazoo)

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Date: 2012-05-03, 8:52PM EDT
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1999 Subaru , 204,000 miles, 24 mpg, good transmission, 5 speed manual, super fun to drive. If this car didn't need so much work, i would keep it. But because I have two kids..and have to cart my sister in laws kids around too...i....sigh...bought a mini van. This car needs a new gas intake line ( 300 bux including labor) and a brake overhaul ( about 700 bux) and it doesn't carry four kids. This car is rough around the edges, but drives great.

E-mail me and i will send you pictures. Frankly if you are counting on this cars appearance to help you pick up people...you are gonna wait a long time, but it drives great. If you are a skier or a snowboarder- this car is perfect for you- plows through grill high snow drifts with out a problem.

I can't let you test drive it because the brakes are bunk. This is a great project car..and it has a lot of life left in it.

Also comes with an awesome array of bumper stickers, instant street cred with skateboarders, environmentalists and soul music listeners.