Glacial Erratics

I returned last night from a quick trip to TheRed with Gary, a genial fellow I met at HoosierHeights. We went down Friday night, climbed on a sunny Saturday and a rainy Sunday and returned home. A good and successful time was had.    (3JI)

I've gathered up some photographs at TheRedSpringBreakContents. Thumbnails can be found at TheRedSpringBreakThumb. I've used those, plus pictures from a few previous trips (EarlySpringRedContents, last summer) to start a ClimbTheRed section which holds info about climbs in the Red River Gorge that I'll find useful so someone else may as well.    (3JK)

This recent trip was a blast despite 17 degree temperatures Friday night (the ultralite thermarest doesn't really cut it in those temps) that left morning frost and ice on my tent. The cold forced me up early for a long day spent at LeftFlank where we climbed ToDefyTheLawsOfTradition, FaceUpToThatCrack, MrBungle and much to my surprise and enjoyment, WildYetTasty.    (3JL)

We went then for a dusk cold-fingered dash up CreatureFeature over at PhanTasia followed by the required pizza at Miguel's. That evening's choice was: shrimp, artichoke, banana peppers, garlic, onion, black olives, mushrooms, and broccoli.    (3JM)

One's choice of toppings is an important part of the TheRed experience.    (3JN)

I woke the next day to cold rain. We had planned to go to TorrentFalls anyway, but the rain cinched it. Gary led a 5.8 that's not in the guidebook (UnknownTorrentFalls), and top roped WadCutter, BandoLier and PoopieHead?. I went up the 5.8 and then decided, despite feeling wishy-washy to lead BandoLier. I was ashamed of myself only top-roping WildYetTasty the day before so gave myself a kick.    (3JO)

Glad I did. Got it clean on the first go. Prior attempts on previous trips had me swinging through the air.    (3JP)

After that went around and flashed the tricky PoopieHead?.    (3JQ)

And that the rain told us we wanted more pizza, so we returned to Miguel's. This time I had: shrimp, jalapeno, pineapple, garlic, black olives.    (3JR)

And then home.    (3JS)

Our trip was greatly improved by running into GregMartin?, a long time excellent climber who gave us loads of advice and encouragement.    (3JT)