“Leave No Trace” Day at Gold Bar

July 31, 2016 | Josh Bennett and Jimmy Grant

It was a cool summer morning as we rumbled out of the Edgeworks parking lot headed for Gold Bar and a fun day of bouldering adventures. Fast forward an hour and we had left the urban sprawl and the gray marine layer behind for the soaring peaks and brilliant sunshine to the east. The van erupted with conversation and excitement as Josh rattled off history about the area and other fun facts as we passed landmarks and pulled up to the trailhead.

After dividing up the climbing gear, Josh and Jimmy handed a trash bag to each member of the group and began to detail the 7 principles of the “Leave No Trace” ethics. As we made our way up the trail we kept our eyes peeled for litter, picking up anything we found and packing it out. The trails were in great condition when we arrived, so we only collected a of handful things. But we know that every little bit helps and a trash free trail will hopefully inspire others to pack it out as well.

After a great hike with stunning views, we were finally sitting under the boulders of “The Samurai”. Josh and Jimmy hurried around placing crash pads around Midnight Lichen boulder as the group had a bite to eat and got their climbing gear on. After a quick discussion about pad placement, spotting, and pad etiquette we were off and climbing with successful sends across a wide range of grades.

As we moved on to the next cluster of boulders known as “Warm-Up Circuit”, Josh noticed a few unsightly tick marks left by a previous group and took this opportunity to talk about proper use of tick marks and the importance of removing them when you are done and always striving to leave everything looking as natural as possible. We then gave those giant rookie stripes a good brush!

Once the sun had really warmed things up, we headed to the true prize of the day – “Fern Crack”, a shaded highball in the heart of the Gold Bar boulders with several variants ranging from v0-v12. After laying down all 10 pads at the base everyone took their turn questing up the 20 ft gently overhanging face. It was really awesome to see the group come together, cheer each other on and make sure everyone felt safe and comfortable even while way off the deck. Awesomely everyone sent at least some version of this 4 star climb with a roar of applause every time someone stood atop this truly magnificent boulder.

From this point day’s end was fast approaching and we marched all the way to the opposite side of the forest for the last few climbs of the day, Beam Me Up and Scotty – both must do’s if you’re in the area. We padded the landing and crowded around as everyone wrestled with these classics on near perfect stone.

When the last pad was packed and a final sweep of the area had been done, we headed down through “The Clearcut” and back down the logging road making sure everyone understood how the roads connected to the boulders. The hike out was topped off with a stop at the famous 5 Star boulder followed by a lot of discussion about all the things we want to do on our next trip.

For more pictures from the day, check out the Gold Bar Bouldering Day album on our Facebook page.

Lisa Garnett

Member since 2004

How did you start climbing?
Lisa: I started climbing by taking the Tacoma Mountaineers basic climbing class in 1996.

Why do you climb at Edgeworks?
Lisa: It keeps me in shape for outdoor adventures. Edgeworks encompasses a great community of climbers making it a fun place to exercise and make friends. Another reason I climb at Edgeworks is for the yoga classes.

Where is your favorite place to climb outside?
Lisa: I cannot chose just one. Yosemite minus the crowds, the Wind River range in Wyoming, and the North Cascades .

What do you do when you’re not climbing?
Lisa: I work as an Occupational Therapist at St Joseph Hospital. Tending to my bee hives, garden, dog and cat keeps me pretty busy. I love kayaking, biking, hiking and photography.

What are some interesting facts you’d like to share with the Edgeworks community?
Lisa: I grew up in Los Angeles but spent most of my summers in Chehalis. They are very different worlds. I try to keep retired climbing jackets or sleeping bags in my car in case I see someone on the street who looks cold. I’ve given a couple away. Its kind of fun and I recommend folks who have extra jackets or cold weather gear give it a try.

Which do you prefer: top rope, lead, or bouldering?
Lisa: Leading in my comfort zone which varies depending the kind of climbing shape I am in. I will gladly top rope anything, but it just is not a satisfying day without at least 1 good lead.

What’s your go-to route grade?
Lisa: 5.9. 10a. 10b.

Climbing Team Newsletter

July 1, 2016

Divisional Competition Recap

It’s been an exciting summer already with ten climbers advancing to Divisionals in Bend, OR on June 18th and 19th. Of those Edgeworks competitors who climbed in the qualifiers on Saturday, four advanced to finals: Riley Hume (MYA), Kohle Andrews (MYB), Brette Hume (FYC), and Kaj Hansen (MYC). Congratulations to Kohle Andrews for finishing in 2nd, and Brette Hume in 7th. Both will receive invitations to compete in the national competition in Kennesaw, GA next month!

Smith Rock State Park Climbing Trip

After the competition wrapped up, Edgeworks team members got together for a team building outdoor rock climbing experience in Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne OR, one of the most well known sport climbing destinations in the country. Temperatures soared on Monday, but that didn’t stop the smallest of the group from climbing the most pitches of the day. Halle Rife showed us all what passion for the sport of rock climbing looks like! We found some shade on Tuesday and had a successful half day of climbing before heading home, happily exhausted.

UPCOMING! Leavenworth, WA Climbing Trip

What we anticipate to be an annual bouldering trip to Leavenworth, WA, is scheduled as a one day trip on Thursday, August 18th. Details are being worked out and will be announced soon. Mark your calendars now! Meanwhile, a committee on the PCA is researching options for overnight camping next year.

NEW!  Lock-in

By massive popular demand, we’re doing another Team Edgeworks Lock-In here at the gym.  The event will run from 10:00 pm on Friday, July 22nd, until 8:00 am on Saturday, July 23rd and will cost $20.  This will be the Friday following Nationals, and seems like a fun way to wrap up our climbing season.  You can sign up over the phone, or at the gym the next time you’re here for practice.

Summer Practice Schedule

Beginning July 1 there will be no Tuesday/Thursday practice. Friday practice will continue until Nationals in mid-July. All team climbers are welcome to join M/W practice.

NEW: The gym closes at 4pm on the 4th of July holiday so practice is cancelled. The regular practice schedule will resume in September.

20 Peaks in 30 Days: Skiing & Sleeping on the Summits of the Cascade Volcanoes
Wednesday, July 13 – 7pm

by: Dr Jon Kedrowski

In the spring of 2014, Dr. Jon Kedrowski spent significant time and effort to accomplish skiing the 20 highest Cascade Volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest in 30 days. Jon, an author, avid ski mountaineer, and expedition guide, traveled up the West Coast starting with California’s Mount Shasta on May 1st and finishing with Mount Baker in Washington on May 31st. Jon not only climbed and skiied the Volcanoes, but he also spent the night on the summits of some of the most iconic mountains of the Pacific Northwest, including peaks like Mount Hood, South Sister, Mount Thielsen, Mount Adams, and Mount Rainier.

Jon embarked on this journey following a similar adventure in 2011, when he became the first person to spend the night on the summits of the 58 Colorado 14ers and wrote his first book, Sleeping on the Summits: Colorado 14er High Bivys. His new book Skiing and Sleeping on the Summits: Cascade Volcanoes will also be available at the event.

Jon has climbed 5 of the 7 continental summits, and summitted Mt Everest in 2012. He was also in Nepal on Everest in the Spring of 2015 when catastrophic earthquakes and a resulting avalanche struck the Everest Basecamp.

Join Jon for a virtual tour of the Volcanoes, including the sunrises, sunsets, weather, climate, and unique volcanology as well as the spectacular ski descents and ski potential, during this interactive multimedia presentation.

James Donley

Member since 2012

Member Stats:

• Lifetime Check-ins: 383+ • Proficiency: Lead • Avg. Monthly Visits: 9.12 • 0 to Member: 6 Days •

How did you start climbing?

Jim: An old friend invited me to check out the gym.

Why do you climb at Edgeworks?

Jim: Good workout. Always something new to try. Awesome staff and a great place to meet active people that enjoy the outdoors.

Where is your favorite place to climb outside?

Jim: Only climbed outside a couple of times so I would have to say Exit 32.

What do you do when you’re not climbing?

Jim: Hiking, camping, travel, snowshoe, cross-country ski, bike riding, just getting into zipline and white-water rafting. Basically anything outdoors that gets the blood pumping.

What are some interesting facts you’d like to share with the Edgeworks community?

Jim: Hmmm, grew up in Upstate New York. Am a Buffalo Bills fan. Served in the Army as a scout. Have lived in Tacoma the past 9+ years and am a Surgical Technologist at St. Joe’s Hospital.

Climbing Team Newsletter

June 1, 2016

It has been an eventful Spring season for the Edgeworks Climbing Team and their families.
We have restructured our Youth Programs, part of which aligns the Club Climbers program more closely with Team; we have formed a Parent Coaches Association to better organize Team/Club events, our competitive rope season is nearing the end, and we have a couple of exciting trips planned for this summer.

Program Changes

Aligning Club climbers with Team furthers the goal of ensuring our programs follow a natural progression from Beginning Climbers to Team. The Club class serves as a transition between Junior Climbers and Team by introducing the climbers to competitive climbing. Club climbers will participate in at least one local competition per season, and will be included in all special events formerly limited to Team.

Coaching Staff

Our coaching staff is similarly rearranged to reflect the change. Our new Team coaching staff includes Jon Manz, Head Coach; Lisa Ferazza, Assistant Head Coach; and Jimmy Grant and Josh Bennet, Team Coaches. Check out their staff bios to learn more about each of them.

NEW!  Parent Coaches Association

The Parent Coaches Association, or PCA, was created to further develop and streamline our Club and Team climbing programs, and to build a strong team foundation. The function and goals of the PCA will be to organize fundraisers and to plan events including but not limited to outdoor trips and picnics. Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to serve on the board: Co-Presidents Nicole Hume and Heidi Kress, Treasurer David Larsen, and Secretary Miriam Amdur.

Meetings will take place every third Thursday of the month at 6:30pm in the Edgeworks Lounge. All Club and Team families are encouraged to attend.

Competition Results

It has been a successful rope season this year. Ten climbers competed in Regionals last month at Stone Gardens in Bellevue! Congratulations to the following climbers who are advancing to Divisionals in Bend, OR on June 18-19:

Female Youth C: Brette Hume, Grace Wilkerson, Sophia Terrill, Elizabeth Hume
Female Youth D: Halle Rife, Ireland Kress (Speed)

Male Youth A: Riley Hume
Male Youth B: Kohle Andrews
Male Youth C: Noah Larsen
Male Youth D: Kaj Hansen

Trips

Following the Divisional competition in Bend, all Team and Club climbers are invited to participate in an outdoor climbing and camping experience at Smith Rock State Park guided by Jon Manz. For more information contact one of the PCA co-presidents, Nicole Hume: nicolehume@comcast.net, or Heidi Kress: Heidigrace@rocketmail.com, or come to the June PCA meeting.

Details about an upcoming climbing trip to Leavenworth over Labor Day weekend will be published in the August newsletter.

Updates

Keep your eyes on this blog for monthly updates on our amazing Team climbers! You’ll also find information, pictures, updates, and news on a bulletin board in the lobby of the gym.

The gym is great with its community, accessibility, and variety; but we all REALLY LOVE TO CLIMB OUTSIDE and we want to take you with us!

Crag Nights

Summer evenings at the crag in North Bend! Join us for an after work, mid-week, evening at the crag. $20/member, or $40 Learn More

Pitches & Pitchers

Spend the whole day climbing outside; then relax and share stories from the day with new friends, great beer, and tasty food. $89/members, or $129 Learn More

Guided Outdoor Days

Enjoy a full-day outdoor, group climbing experience with our highly trained and AMGA certified instructors/guides. Whether your looking for a first time Intro/Sport Climbing experience or an entry point to Trad & Multi-Pitch, we have a number of options, dates, and location from which to choose.

Meet Our Guides!

Spring Bouldering Series

Wednesday Nights: May 4th – June 8th
8:00pm – 9:30pm | FREE for Members

Compete with friends on the newest problems in the gym!  Jimmy has a designed this 6-week series to be 3 competitions in one with prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place overall winners; recognition for “most improved”, “most inspirational”, etc; and, weekly challenges will be worked in to each competition. Regardless of your climbing ability (strong or newbie), this is sure to be a fun social experiment – er, EXPERIENCE –  for everyone involved.

Sign up at the front desk!

Competition Categories:

(Male and female categories split into 3 difficulties)
V0 – V2   |   V3 – V5   |   V6+

Format:

4 redpoint competitions (in which points are gained only if the problem is completed)
2 surprise category comps