Rock Climbing
2001

We have been doing more and more rock climbing recently.

Climbing requires not just strength, but balance and flexibility.

Bruce began climbing when he retired from mountain bike racing about six years ago.

In the last year Tass has started to race less, and climb more as well.

In these photos we visit Joshua Tree National Park in southern California. The rock pictured here is a type of granite called quartz monzonite.

Geologists believe this rock was formed underground in a huge mass called a batholith. Because of uplift and erosion the rock is now exposed, creating a variety of incredible formations--all with great climbing.
Rock climbing has made us much more aware of different types of rock.

Climbing on sandstone requires different skills than climbing on limestone or granite.

The photos below were taken in May during a climbing trip to City of Rocks in southern Idaho. The granite at City of Rocks is highly featured, with unique sculpted walls offering unusual hand and footholds. Some routes have protruding bumps, which climbers call "chicken heads," offering "thank goodness" holds and rests.

Bruce is just starting up Tribal Boundaries. On the right Bruce is being belayed by a friend from Colorado as he continues up the route.
Climbing routes often have unusual names.

The route Bruce is just starting on the left is called Rye Crisp.

The crack you can see is part of an enormous flake of rock, which offers great handholds all the way up the route.

Yahoo!! This route is one of our favorites at City of Rocks, Idaho.