Oregon - High Desert Rock and Volcanic Glaciers

Oregon is treating me right. I got to Oregon last week and have been climbing almost everyday since. I started out by climbing Mt. Bachelor just outside of Bend, OR. At 9,064', Bachelor is mainly a ski mountain but a climbing route does exist up the back, west side. It was perfect for me because a weather system was coming in and I wanted to try out my bivy gear in weather. I found a perch at 8,500'and dug in (pic 2) with a beautiful view of the South Sister and Broken tooth. As evening came on, the winds picked up and clouds came in. I had a terrific night of intermitted whiteout and half moon, starry night conditions. The next morning I woke early boiled some snow for oatmeal and finished the climb making it back in time to get to a Laundromat (to dry clothes) by noon. Nice climb, really fun in the weather. From Bachelor I headed on to Smith Rock. Smith Rock State Park is just outside of Terrebonne, OR at ~3,000’. Since it is east of the cascades precipitation is minimal. Smith and the surrounding area is considered high plains desert and the mesas couldn’t be more beautiful especially with the snow capped cascades as a back drop. I made a partner that day and have been climbing most everyday since.

James, my climbing partner, even agreed to climb Mt. Hood with me. So after a couple days on the rock, we headed over to Hood. Under a clear sky we headed up Hood at 5 am on Wednesday morning. While were not the 1st on the route we were not the last either. We were, however one of the few teams with no skis. Skis would have been nice for the approach and the descent. These are some pictures of the route. The hogback ridge (pic 4), the Pearly Gates (pic 3) and of course the summit (pic 1) are some of the features in the pictures. I also managed to meet 2 Texans on the route. Walter and Ryan were each on the mountain separately but we all ended up making the final push together and Ryan has joined James and I back at Smith. Walt was good enough to contribute some of the better pictures, thanks Walter.

Back at Smith I have been fortunate enough to have a great guide in James. James spent a month here a few years ago and knows the park quite well. We have rotated between climbing sport routes and trad routes both in the main park and the gorge (pic 5). The gorge is all trad and the rock is Basalt which adds to the parks diversity. This past weekend we ended up climbing beside Dean Potter in the gorge. He and Steph Davis were at Smith for a Hera Foundation event to raise money for ovarian cancer.

I also got a chance to climb with an old friend. Angela Purviance and her boyfriend, John came up this past weekend. John choose to fish while we climbed. Their visit was great and it gave us reason enough to have big family-style supper complete with wine and a nice fire, good times indeed. Sunday, Angie, Ryan and I, in an attempt to find the shade, made our way around the other side of the park and I got this shot of Monkey Face (pic 7). James and I got on Monkey Face this week but with the heat and birds (their nest and droppings) we lost motivation a couple pitches below the summit.

Speaking of weather, its 89 here today and the forecast does not offer much relief over the next few days. I am starting to lean North and making my plans for Washington and British Columbia.

Harden (& Battles) Family Vacation ......

The visits keep coming but this one even more special than the last. This last week I got to see my father, sister and nephew for a Harden Family Northern California vacation. Dad, Kim and Harden came into San Francisco on Friday and we hit the docks right away. Fisherman’s Wharf is a real treat for folks that love seafood but live in TN. Did you know catfish is not really seafood? Oh well, Saturday we hit San Francisco proper, ditching the car and jumping on the trolley. After a little instruction on how one should ride (not hang off of) on a trolley car we were on our way.

We made our way from Fisherman's Wharf up Hyde Street, over Knob Hill and down to Market Street to start the tour. From Market with cruised all the popular spots; Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, Russian and Knob Hill. We walked it all. This is Kim and Harden in Chinatown after lunch.

Sunday we decided to leave the city and see some wine country. What would a visit to San Francisco be without a trip to Napa? This is a shot of Kim and Harden at Peju Province in Napa. From here we visited Beringer, Ramond, and lastly Folie A Duex where we met some nice folks from Memphis. The winery did not know what had hit them. Good times.

Monday, we decided to hit the coast and what a coast it is. Our first stop was a small state park along the Russian River to see the coastal redwoods, magnificent. From there we went onto the actual coast and Fort Ross. Fort Ross turned out to be real nice find. The Fort was actually established by the Russians when they still owned Alaska. It was a supply depot for the Alaskan colonies before being sold to the U.S. (Dad chime in with more history via a post). The Fort and the coast were amazing sites and Harden can say that he once defended Fort Ross!

From here it was back to San Francisco so Harden and Kim could fly out on Tuesday. After their departure, Dad and I hit Yosemite. It was amazing to me that in less than a weeks time the park had sprung into spring even further.

Dad and I didn't slow down a bit. We toured the valley proper on Tuesday, hiked out to Mirror Lake on Wednesday and hiked out to the granddaddy of all Giant Sequoias on Thursday. That is the Grizzly Giant and that little guy is my dad, Tony. Who looks older? Just kidding. The giant is some 2700 years old and huge.

It was a really great week. I have been fortunate to see so much since I have been traveling and it was really nice to share some of the new experiences with family. Thanks to Dad for setting it up, Kim and Harden for enduring the back, flip-down, cramped, thinly padded seats of my truck and California for the weather, sites and sounds.



Latest - I am now in Smith Rock Oregon. Climbing Tuff and Basalt Rock and even a mountain or 2. More on that soon......

Yosemite Honeymoon!!!!!

Announcing Mr. and Mrs. Drew (& Casey) Sloss!!

I had a really fortunate opportunity to meet up with two of my favorite Nashvillians last week and during a very special two weeks for them. Drew and Casey (a.k.a. KCdrew) passed through Yosemite Valley on their honeymoon and while I didn’t return home for the actual nuptials, they did allow me to visit during the honeymoon. We did it up in true Nashville style.

I was able to beat them to the campsite and spend a few hours setting up the Yosemite Honeymoon Suite. The celebration was complete with firewood, King Cobra, slackline, banners, stir fry and an 8’x10’ tarp to shelter us from the spring rain. The Valley provided the rest.

We weren’t able to climb due to the rain but we thoroughly enjoyed each others company and the Valley in its full-on spring flow. And besides, everyone should have Curry Village pizza on their honeymoon and then sleep in rental van. It's a real must do.

Congratulations Drew and Casey!!!!!

q. Which is more dangerous, slackline'ing or getting married ……. or both?
a. Ask Drew


After Drew and Casey’s send off I did manage to get in a couple of days of climbing. Surprisingly, it cleared up after they left. (Is it supposed rain during your honeymoon?) The clearing weather gave me a chance to get on the South Face of Washington Column and to spend my first night a big wall. The weather was perfect and the huge dinner ledge made for a great bivy. Nighttime in the Valley is best viewed from above.

Great week in the Valley!