Monday, May 5, 2014

Bury Them Bones

I finally made it back to Gunnison to start mopping up the bouldering projects I left when I graduated a few years ago. First on the list was the Nameless Project at the Graveyard Boulders in Taylor Canyon. Caleb Justice and I had checked this line out when we first started developing the Graveyard, but it was too hard back then, so we wrote it off and set to work on the other surrounding blocs. 

Mike getting to work on the project

Two years ago Caleb, Ben Spannuth, and I gave the project another look and the moves finally started coming together. Caleb and Ben figured out some creative toe-hook beta and finally, all the moves were done. Yesterday, Mike Kelliher unlocked some crucial micro-beta at the last minute, and I was able to squeak out a send of the boulder. I named it Bury Them Bones and I think it is probably V11.

Move-by-Move:

The gaston move

The problem starts on a nice flat rail, then powers straight into a hard high-heel gaston match. This sequence leads right into the crux move, a big toss with the right hand to an okay pinch on a slopey rail. After bumping further right to a sharp intricate sloper, the problem transitions from power to tension. Unique bicycle and toe-hook beta allows for a match on the rail and then a blind move around the arete. After turning the arete, an easy slab over a bad landing takes it to the top.

Sticking the crux toss

This is the second double digit addition to the Graveyard Boulders and there are more to be had. As long as you don't mind the river crossing!

I definitely want to give a shout-out again to Caleb, Mike, Ben, and all the others who helped this boulder go down!




Also... I got engaged to Chelsea on Saturday! Hooray!