Lisa Misses a Day of Climbing and Class

She had to go to LaCrosse and missed Aaron's and my adventure at Willow River today. And, apparently, she has to miss the anchors' class tonite. (Of course, she's the one who took my spot in the first place.)

Anyway, we sure missed Sunbeam with us today at Willow River. We needed someone who could pop up like toast because we couldn't. (We also missed the sun which would have helped with our fingers.)

This was our first trip to Willow and I don't know when I'll go back. It's plain hard. The setting, alongside a rushing river - so loud the leader and the belayer couldn't hear each other - should be peaceful and relaxing. Instead, to me, it looked evil. Could be the dark, ragged rock soaring 60 feet overhead. Or the imminent danger of rockfall or just our unfamiliarity. We did two different routes - one we completed and one we had to back off from. Some photos:

This is the easiest route there.


















It was cold - about 40 with a wind.