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Here is the long awaited vid (sorry Fultz) of the Sawtooths along with a few photos Geoff Williams sent me from his trip up there. The vid has four problems:
#1 is a great looking, unnamed problem that Jeff Smith put up on what I am calling the Swamp Boulder.
#2 is on the Milk Roof which has a really nice V5ish (Harvey Milk Roof) roof crack/jug system to an awkward topout, a hard line which is shown in the vid, that begins on the V5 and breaks left through some bad holds (Milk Roof Left), and a still to be cleaned warmup on the left side of the roof.
#3 is on the Swamp Boulder again. Swamp Thang is a cool little low start with a big shoulder move right away.
#4 is THE LINE of the area. The Prow is very reminiscent of The Practitioner up in leavenworth but slightly easier, about twice the size in every aspect and no dabbage potential…This is one of the best boulder problems I have ever done:

Jeff Smith working a hard looking project

Geoff Williams a little higher up on the project

Geoff working on The Prow

Geoff working on The Prow

Jeff on The Prow

Jeff Smith and I made a day trip yesterday to a new area in the Sawtooths he has been developing over the past couple weeks. The area is very remote by bouldering standards yet one of the most accessible in the Sawtooths. After a two hour hike and about 2,000 feet of elevation gain, we had made it to the boulders and they had exceeded my expectations. I first explored the large talus field above the main bouldering area. This area was very reminiscent of the Upper Chaos area in RMNP. Huge boulders, many 60+ feet tall. Although I didn’t find much in the way of classics there, I think this area needs to be explored a bit more before it is written off. Next I found my way down to the main area where Jeff had already established a few great problems.

Although the quality of rock is not perfect up there, the size of the boulders and the fact that the rock is featured enough to climb on (ahem…McCall…) makes this area more than worth the hike in. Oh yeah, and there are roofs to climb on so you know I’m all in. I’ll upload the video in the next couple days, til then here are a few photos:

Jeff working a crazy looking project on a HUGE boulder in the main area.

Jeff on a cool new problem that involves some very hard compression roof climbing

Jeff on the FA of a nice new problem

Jeff re-sending one of his new classic problems

Jeff on the same problem, different view

The hike out, only 2 hours to go

Last week we made it up to the McCall Scree Field. The road in was very rough and the drive back took forever. But in the end it was well worth it. We climbed a few lines that have undoubtedly been climbed before and we did a few lines that I am fairly sure are FAs. Here are a few photos of some problems. I’ll get the vid up early next week.

Mike McClure on The Consolation Prize. Photo by Mike Bockino

Last week I finally sent one of my long time projects in the Taco Cave. While it is not the full Warpath, it is just as worthy. It is somewhat easier as well, skipping the final crux V9/10 section (Out of Africa) and continuing left through the roof on a few hard link moves (V8?) to finish on The Smell, making a slightly longer line. Not sure if it has been done before (Litz? Maische?) but I was very, VERY psyched to have finally sent…major break through. Check out the vid:

Here are a couple photos that Geoff Williams sent me of BK Koomler climbing at Table Rock. Geoff mentioned that he doesn’t see much coverage of Table Rock and that the area is somewhat underrated as many Boise climbers have their initial climbing experiences up there. If any one has more good photos of Table Rock, send them in and I’ll post them.

Mark Polinski warming up near the Demon Days boulder

Coolest pinch in the world? Two of the three huecos on the aptly named Tres Huecos project.

Just a tiny little bullet crimp

Start jug on Demon Days…perfect rock

Lina Kearney…crushing

Lina Kearney on a cool problem near the Taco Cave

Mark Polinski sending Pissy Pants Right

Some interesting rock features…

Walker Kearney sending Heartncocknballs

A tree

Last weekend we made the short trek out to Randall’s Creek for a quick little evening session. My main goal was Savage Messiah. I had spent an hour on it in the blazing sun a few days before but with the combination of the heat and lack of pads/spotters I could not commit to the last move. This time I was able to pull it off…barely. Savage Messiah is THE LINE at Randalls and one of the best problems I have ever done. It’s big, long, quality rock, fun moves, builds to a climactic crux at the top, has some spice to it, and is strikingly beautiful. I highly recommend this problem. Check out the vid:

Tammy and I have been making quite a few trips out to Swan Falls recently. The weather has been perfect if not a little on the warm side. On our last trip out there I noticed a small and awkwardly positioned roof during our warm-up. After about an hour of cleaning and refining beta both Tammy and I were able to send the problem, naming it Doug was Here. Check out this photo and vid of the problem. It would be great to see a few more people send this thing before the heat hits Swan for the summer.

Here are a few photos of Dierkes Lake that Ried Stillman sent me earlier this week…enjoy: