Tribute to Double D's (not those)

I think it seems fitting that Tenacious D would sing these lyrics about our friend:

"This is not The Greatest climber in the World, no.
This is just a tribute.
Couldn't remember The Greatest climber in the World, no, no.
This is a tribute, oh, to The Greatest climber in the World,
All right! It was The Greatest climber in the World,
All right! It was the best muthafuckin' climber the greatest climber in the world"

Well maybe I interpreted the lyrics a little differently, but I am sure they meant to talk about Drew Davis... I mean really, who wouldn't... (real song here)

As our readers may or may not know, today (or yesterday depending on the time of this post) is/was Drew's birthday. To show my appreciation for Drew's futile yet unwaivering pursuit of climbing stardom, I offer this humiliation...errrrr... blog as a tribute to his many abilities!

Drew can be pensive and thought invoking as he stares at Resident Evil at Joe's Valley

Drew can be strong or fuerte (did you know that Drew is multi-lingual???) as he looks calm yet determined on Big Joe V7 at Joe's Valley

Drew can get himself (and your overnight shipments) out of most uncomfortable situations (and by uncomfortable, i mean uncomfortable for me and everyone around) so that makes him practical and thoughtful. Here he is in his UPS outfit on Michaelangelo V4 Joe's Valley.

If you get out of line Drew can demonstrate his ninja-blur-foot skills to remind you "Who's the Boss?" Drew on Worst Case Scenario V9 Joe's Valley

And if that doesn't work, he can show you his muscly arm, that is if he's not using it on Highbrow V7, Happy Boulders - Bishop

Drew is probably the most caring person I know. Here he demonstrates by spotting me as if his life depended on it. (You really thought i could blog without a picture of me... pssh!) Big Joe V7, Joe's Valley.

Drew also has the power to make even the camera drunk... oh and that's a taser, not a cell phone. Even when he is smiling, he never lets his guard down.

Well it seems Drew has many beneficial powers at his disposal but I did leave one out... Drew also has the power to be...

Retarded...

Happy birthday Drew!

The Standoff

Day 2: Happy Boulders

After wrecking ourselves at the Buttermilks on Friday, our skin needed a break from granite. Unfortunately, volcanic at the Happies in April isn't much better. The rock was warm to the touch even in the shade. I started to warm up and quickly decided to save it for another day and take pictures instead.

Derek warming up in the shade on Donkey Boy (V0+)

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Derek was pretty beat from the previous day, but Eric and I (the slave drivers) made him keep climbing. Hopefully we didn't hurt him too bad. Here he is sending Action Figure (V6)

photos - Jeff Sillcox

Eric didn't climb enough the day before. He still had energy to screw around on the Happy Boulder. The Hulk (V6)


photos - Jeff Sillcox

And Disco Diva (V8)

photo - Jeff Sillcox

And the moment you've all been waiting for: Eric sent Rio's Secret Arete (V3) in a couple tries after complaining about being short (he's 5' 10" if anyone who's actually short wants to punch him). He then spent the next hour or so (I might be exaggerating slightly) trying to get psyched up to jump the gap back to the rim. I jumped back and forth a few times and fell into a pushup position across the gap trying to help him (I don't think it helped). And in the end, he opted for the sketchy chimney downclimb over the pit of death and the shame of being a wuss.

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Nate will probably chime in here and defend Eric for not giving in to peer pressure on this jump. But that is only because he too lives in shame from not doing this jump. I think we need to arrange some sort of death match between Nate and Eric on top of this boulder. Or maybe they can hold hands and jump together...

Random Junk

I've been waiting for a big send and some accompanying video or photos to post, but it's just not happening. Wills did manage to do Direction (V13) a couple weeks ago and since he won't spray about it, I will. It was his first V13 and at age unknown shows that, "Hey, I guess they're right. Senior citizens, although slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can still serve a purpose."

So, since there's nothing big to report other than Wills making everything look easy, here's a bunch of random pictures from the last couple weeks:

Andrew sending Crispin Waddy (V6), Happy Boulders in a couple tries

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Jeff Honeywell on a five star V5 at some boulders

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Some boulders, mountains with white snow, and clouds

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Part of a dead animal

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Wills almost repeating Plain High Drifter (V11ish)

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Noah on Carrot Top (V3), Happy Boulders. There might be some video of Nathan sending this one somewhere... Andrew???

photo - Jeff Sillcox

A snow dealie at the Buttermilks

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Jeff H. psyching up for a nighttime send of Integration (V8). I sort of got pictures of him on it but they're really blurry since I'm retarded and left a piece of my tripod at home.

photo - Jeff Sillcox

This was going to be a sweet silhouette shot of Eric on Go Granny Go (V5), but he's not quite fat enough to block out the whole sun. Need Space Moths...

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Eric on Thunderbird (V11). This is the move I keep falling off of on Direction.

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Me getting hit in the butt with a snowball

photo - Jamie Kulju

Sunset with a tiny moon from the Buttermilks

photo - Jeff Sillcox

The Good Mud

With the Buttermilks still melting out, Jim and I were forced to spend a lot of time in the tablelands. And while it's not the perfect rock we'd like to be climbing on, there's still some pretty good mud to play around on.

Jim getting crushed on attempt #20 on Orange Crush (V7), Happy Boulders

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Powering up for the send with a rock that looks freakishly like a chocolate chip cookie

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Jim sending Orange Crush (V7)

video - Jeff Sillcox
edited by - Jim Sillcox

Andrew, Jim, and Eric on Los Locos (V7), Sad Boulders

photos - Jeff Sillcox

Eric found an easier way on, but since the crux is at the end...

photo - Jim Sillcox

Jim trying to find his way out of the dark on Enter the Dragon (V9), Sad Boulders

photo - Jeff Sillcox

This one's been on my list for a long time... Lawnmower Man (V7), Sad Boulders

video - Jim Sillcox

Eric, running a second lap on Grindrite (V3), Happy Boulders

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Eric hoping he doesn't roll down the hill on Atari (V6), Happy Boulders

photo - Jim Sillcox

Jeff Honeywell wondering how he's going to top it out with me hanging over the top taking pictures

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Jeff H. sending Atari (V6)

video - Jim Sillcox

Jeff H. squeezing his way up Not Another Brit in Bishop (V7), Happy Boulders

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Ol' Man River

Sorry for the quick bump Eric, but Blogmania must go on. And you live in LA and I shoveled an LA touron out so Ipso facto, I'm your boss.

Some clowns from LA trying to drive their two wheel drive SUV through a foot of snow...

photo - Jim Sillcox

Since the big storm, this has been the only climbable piece of rock above 6000 feet.

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Hey Andy, want to pad-sled the Grandpa Peabody?

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Jim trying to find some sun on Not the Clapper (V1), Happies (yes, he's wearing a wetsuit)

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Ol' Man River downclimbing Old Ass Truck (V96) (also his age). We've spent more time digging people out (of our way) than climbing.

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Jim recovering from a football in the groin...

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Me working Direction (V13), (yes, I would try to top it out if I got up there)

photo - Jim Sillcox

So, for anyone planning on going to the Buttermilks this weekend, bring your own shovel because I'm leaving mine at home this time.

Bishop Preseason

It's almost Bishop bouldering season and I'm not excited yet. It's autumn and the temps are perfect for Way Lake, Rock Creek, Tuolumne, and numerous other summer bouldering areas. But since nature isn't cooperating right now, I've had to venture down to the Owen's Valley a little earlier than normal.

The weatherman said we weren't going to get much from this storm...

photo - Jeff Sillcox

He lied. Anyway, we ended up in Bishop where it's always nice.

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Except for the crowds

photo - Jeff Sillcox

Eric managed to finish off Acid Wash (V10) in the blazing heat and we both got pretty worked trying Goldfish Trombone (V13/14).

Eric Lang wearing the wrong pants on Acid Wash (V10)
photo - Jeff Sillcox

Sunday was pretty unproductive because of the heat but I did play around on the Buttermilker SDS (V12/13) to remember the moves. It felt pretty good and I'm excited to finish it off as soon as temps allow. Here's a photo from a couple seasons ago.

photo - Eric Lang

I was tricked into going back to the Buttermilks on Wednesday despite the crappy temps. It was too hot to pull on small holds so I ran a lap on Hero Roof (V0+) and set to work on the Wheel of Cheese project. For those of you who don't know about this amazing linkup in the cave, let me explain. You can see some of the line in the photo above. It begins on Shelter From the Storm (V6) (right side of photo under the hole) and traverses high into the end of Little Forgotten (V9) and finishes with the topout of the Buttermilker.

Jamie Kulju on Inner Sanctum (V2), part of the first third of Wheel of Cheese (V10)
photo - Eric Lang

Now, I'm not a sportclimber so I'm not exactly sure about the grade, but I'm guessing it's around V10 or maybe 5.13 something. It's 25 moves and I fell off the end a bunch (in between naps) because I have no endurance. Maybe it's only V8. Time will tell as I'm sure many people will be lining up for it this winter. I don't have any photos of the send because everyone gave up on me and left for the day, but here's a photo that sums it all up...

Some dude wearing a sweet tux and holding a giant
Wheel of Cheese (V10/5.13/18000 calories)

Here's an old video of Bubba Gump (V10) from when the temps were good.

video - Jim Sillcox