Long time no post, it's time to shake a leg and recount some of the latest adventures. Kyle Pease and I went and did Timebinder (III, 5.11b) in Blodgett Canyon in the Bitterroot range south of Missoula. High quality granite and gorgeous views make this a five-star route in my opinion. We headed out of town the night before and camped at the trailhead, waking at 4am to start the approach. We crossed the creek about a mile or two in and started the walk up the scree slope and gaining the starting ledge at about 6:30. The route takes a scrambly 5.7 path up to the first proper climbing, the Entrance Exam pitch. A 5.10c slab with a very fun move gets you to the start of the traverse pitch.
Approach Ledge, 6:30am
Kyle coming up Entrance Exam Pitch
The traverse pitch was a blast, Kyle took the lead and off he went. A fun exposed traverse and a couple of 10c moves takes you under a small overhang and to the start of the next pitch, Hematoma (5.10d), face moves and a thin crack. I took the lead again and was in for some of the most fun climbing I've ever done!
Top of Hematoma, soaking up the view
Psych at the belay!
Next up was the Red Tower pitch, a semi-detached pillar formation with a 5.10d crack right through the gap. Strenuous laybacking takes you to splitter thin hands and fingers, and after Kyle gunned through the lead I came up after.
Kyle psyched after the Red Tower Pitch.
The dropoff on the other side of the pillar. I'm sitting on it!
It was now a bit after noon and the day was scorchingly hot on the wall already, so we decided to forgo the last two pitches and bop on down. 5 rappels saw us back to Terra Firma, and back to the creek for a much needed dip in Blodgett Creek! Climb on!
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