Bishop Spring Break Recap

Van at the Pit.  Photo: Avery

What?  Spring Break was over two weeks ago?  That makes this post long overdue.  Better late than never I guess.

The Bend Endurance Academy climbing team paired up with the climbers from the Multnomah Athletic Club to put on a super sweet trip to Bishop CA!  We had a great time camping, climbing, cooking, and just hanging out in the desert for a couple days and getting some sun. Here's a quick day by day recap and a bunch of cool pics. Also, check out these blogs for more pics and words on the trip:

Grant Rants and Vanessa Listens

Live Stellar

Five Ten

Day One:  Pack up the van and trailer and we're off!  Wait.  What's that noise?  Small detour to "The Shop" in Lapine to get a exploded parking break fixed.  We actually got really lucky to find a place so close that would do some work on a Sunday!

Limping in to The Shop to get some work done. Photo: Avery

After our minor setback it was back on the road through the openness of Eastern Oregon only to have our avocados confiscated at the California border.  Out of California avocado-less and into Nevada and eventually the biggest little city on earth- Reno!  We spent the evening bouldering and climbing at CommRow in the heart of Reno.  CommRow is home to the tallest climbing wall in the world.  The lead wall is a two pitch climb on the outside of an old casino set against a backdrop of the bright neon lights of Reno.  Inside there are two free standing boulders that had some cool angles and fun problems.

Sadie crushing at Commrow. Photo: Tempest

Day Two:  Following a good nights rest it was back on the road for our final push to Bishop.  After a good solid 4 hours we made it to Bishop and the "pit", our home away from home for the next couple days.  We set up tents and fortified them from the winds that are notorious for the area and head to the Sads for an evening bouldering session.

Almost there... Photo:Tempest

Ethan, Sadie, Ryan, and Lukas Chillin' at the campsite. Photo: Tempest

Day Three:  Happys!  We had a private tour guide, Ryan Rougeux (pronounced different than coach Mike's last name even though they're cousins????) , bring us to the best of the best in the Happys.  a bunch of people sent Solarium (v4), some sends on Serengeti (v5), Sends on Monkey Hang (v3).  River had a good day with sends up to v10. Lukas set a record of sending Serengeti after what had to have been 30+ attempts.

Tempest, Abby, and Sadie happy to go to the Happy Boulders!

Lukas FINALLY sending Serengeti (v5). Photo: Avery

Ethan exploring the boulders. Photo: Tempest

Day Four:  Back to the Happy Boulders with our friends Drew and Christina from Bend and Cameron from the Rogue Rock Gym.  We climbed a bunch of v3's and worked some really pockety climbs up on the rim and Ryan and Ethan did pushups.  Lots of smores back at camp!

The crew of crushers after a hard day of climbing.  Photo: Avery

Abby pickin' pockets on Solarium (v4).  Photo: Tempest

Day Five:  Last day to make the fingers bleed so we headed to the Buttermilks!  Super fun and hard climbs on the Birthday boulders sent ranging from V1 to V3.  What a difference going from Tuff to Granite.  Everyone gave a whirl on the iconic Ironman Traverse (v5) but nobody sent- this time. A couple send of the truly unique Buttermilk Stem (v1).  Lots of time spent and with great success on two v3's on King Tut boulder with some really techy climbing to rounded top outs.  Oh, and to finish it up Mike beat Peter in the coaches climbing challenge by sending a v6 on Tut boulder.  Peter won the coaches beard challenge of which Mike had no chance in winning anyway.

Parade of pads.  Photo: Tempest

Tori topping out a high v1 in the milks.  Photo: Avery

Alana on her way to sending in the milks.  Photo: Avery

Sadie on Ironman Traverse.  Photo: Avery

Sore skin.  Photo: Tempest

Alana on the Birthday Boulders.  Photo: Avery

Nothing better than some heel clicking after climbing!

Mike getting nervous that Pete might stick this and take the lead in the coaches contest.  Photo: Avery

Day Six:  13+ hours in the van with no complaints.  I'm assuming this meant that everyone had a blast!

Happy or un-happy with 13 hours in the van? Photo: Tempest

Climbers on the trip:  Mike (Bend), Vanessa (Bend), Peter (MAC), Avery (MAC), River (Bend), Abby (Bend), Sadie (Bend), Tempest (Bend), Ethan (Bend), Lukas (Bend), Ryan (MAC), Tori (MAC), Alana (MAC).

The whole crew!