We’ve been scheming for over a year now climb at 90 foot wall. This little collection of easily toproped cracks is an easy hike from the most popular trailhead on lake Tahoe at Eagle Creek. The first few times we came here, we didn’t even get parked. The first time it took us 20 minutes…

One strange thing about living and working from a camper for a year is that we knew of several other couples doing the same thing, but we were always in different places. Now that we’ve stayed in one place for a while one of them finally came within range and we finally get to meet…

Just looking to get on some rock we find good conditions at Dinosaur Rock. I manage my first lead of the season on The Left Seam, which is rated 5.10a but is easily cheated down to about 5.7. We run laps on that and Color Me Gone 5.9 until spent, then go home happy. We…

The high crags are still snowed under, so Ann and I try a little cliff along the the east Carson river called Book of the Red. We find a warm and peaceful 40-foot corner to enjoy while listening to the river amble by. Until hordes of drunken partying teens show up. Their yells, especially “angry…

Donner Pass is a good spot for hot days. The shady roadside crags are crowded, but grouse slab is a little out of the way and fairly quiet. We get ourselves to the crag early enough to catch a couple of routes in the shade. One other couple from the bay area joins us until…

We’ve explored quite a few crags in our neighborhood, but I’m still curious about this one to the south that is not in our area guidebook. Armed with some beta from mountain project, Ann and I drive south to have a look. We find the crag I’m looking for, but even better, a couple who…

High temperatures have made a big difference in snow levels, so we return to the small but scenic Trippy Rock to climb in the sun with great views of Lake Tahoe. Another friendly group shares ropes with us, and afterward we drive down to the shores of the lake. I’ll never forget the views I…

A leisurely day of climbing in the warm sun feels extremely good. The crag is busy but not mobbed. Ann impresses our neighbors when she climbs a tree to untangle their rope. River Rock Craggin Ann Goes Ape for Rope Routes: Spring Break 5.8, On Safari 5.7, Improbable 5.10c TR, Just to Watch Him Die…

More exploration of the Reno surroundings today. The Mount Rose ski area is closed, but it’s obviously still getting skied daily, and is not yet a pee stop. http://www.flickr.com/photos/96029174@N00/5779802256/ Lake Tahoe is big, the biggest “alpine lake” in North America. Someone told Ann it holds enough water to cover California 14 inches deep. http://www.flickr.com/photos/96029174@N00/5779804874/ We…

There is a lot of climbing around Lake Tahoe, but we hear that it’s mostly still snowed in. Dinosaur Rock is a crag that’s not too far away and has some easy routes for us. I’m curious about Carson City too, the state capital, and closer to Tahoe than Reno. We find the rock south…