Mt. Diablo

Mt. Diablo: From the summit on a clear day, it is possible to view the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and the southernmost mountain of the volcanic Cascade Range, Mount Lassen more than 180 miles (290 km) away. Owing to the earth's curvature it is not possible to see the larger Mount Shasta, although Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, about 125 miles (201 km) to the east, can be viewed with a telescope when the atmosphere is exceptionally clear. Historic claims that the mountain's viewshed is the largest in the world—or second largest after Mount Kilimanjaro—are unfounded. It is however, one of the largest viewsheds in the Western United States. -- Wikipedia!

Yesterday Stephen and I woke up early(for a sunday) and headed southeast toMt. Diablo. Our goal: to lead climb The Amaing Face on the lower tier of Boy Scout Rocks. It is eleven bolts, and 91 feet tall! The only bummer about the bay area is that the weather is usually how it is today, so when the weather is gorgeous everyone likes to get out and go hiking, climbing, and biking. The park was pretty crowded, especially with a group of inner city kids. It makes my heart happy to see kids from inner City and from inner Oakland getting out and seeing and experiencing nature! But, it also bugs me that they are so loud outside!!

Because the lower tier is mostly harder climbs, there were only a handful of us experienced climbers, and we were low enough that we couldn't hear any of the kids screaming, it was really nice and beautiful. When I saw how high the climb was, my nerves got to me and threw a bit of a temper and demanded that Stephen set up an anchor at the top and throw over the rope so I could top rope it first, I was afraid to lead the route without having climbed it first. While Stephen went around, I sat there and listened and it was so weird, you could hear a somewhat loud buzz! I couldn't tell where it was coming from until I looked up and noticed that all the flowers on the trees were in bloom and all the buzzing was from BEES! The bees were buzzing around the tops of the trees doing all their bee business! A little scary right?

I climbed the route first, and I am so happy I didn't start out leading! That route was no 5.9! I later found out that due to softness of the stone, and people climbing too soon after rain the route had been altered to be a 5.10a+. It was a really fun route, and I would definitely like to return to the route and tackle it as a lead route! I could definitely tell that since last summer when Stephen and I climbed in Montana that I have overcome a lot of my outdoor climbing fears. I was totally confident in Stephens anchor setting, I didn't freak out over falling, I never gave up, I was more confident with my holds, and using what seems like nothing as really good foot holds! So, even though we both only climbed up the route once, I was really happy with the trip!


I have to give it to Stephen though, because once again he was able to handle one of my bitchtastic climbing episodes. I think I throw these tempers because I don't know what to expect, and the fear I have of not knowing what the route is going to be like scares me. So instead of taking it out on the walls and rocks, I take it out on Stephen! Rawr! But, I am working on it!!
Also note, Stephen is super proud of the fact that he has completed his first "climbing rack"!