Exponential Challenge: Day 7

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme

 We stayed in hotel instead of risking a bad nights rest. We got to the Cactus Cliff by 630am and started climbing at 7 in one of the coldest winds that I have climbed in.

 This is the first route of the day. With frozen hands and limbs we climbed steadily throughout the day. I chose to lead every route of the day as an additional personal challenge to top off the week.
In the end, we each climbed 64 routes and I have to thank Ben for joining me. He did great and stuck with it even when the fatigue really set in for him.
The one route that stuck out on this day was the 11th from the end. I got cold, tired and really felt that I was going to fall while on lead. The overhanging dihedral was kicking my butt and hitting all of my weaknesses. I sucked it up and got a second wind as the folks from Denver that we climbing next to us began to chat it up. Thanks so much for those that we climbed with over the week and to all those who helped me train. It was great fun to get it done!

 You can see it in our eyes that we are kind of tired after 12 straight hours of climbing and belaying.

Sunset at Shelf, we didn't even need our headlamps!

Exponential Challenge: Day Four

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme

By day four Ben and I were feeling tired. The tower day was not too difficult grade wise but, the cold weather and moving between climbs added up.

 We started a little bit later than normal on day four because it was just 8 routes. 8 single pitch routes! It felt like a rest day and made quick work of the climbs on a cool day in Escalante.

 A photo showing the Frank Zappa Appreciation Society. I still can't believe that I was able to get the first free ascent of that roof.

 We had some sunshine on and off but still had to climb in down jackets and winter hats! When would the weather improve a little bit? I wasn't looking for 70 degree temperatures, but out of the 30's would have been nice!

 Escalante, what a great place to climb and explore.

We ended early without any falls (except for Ben since he tried the Zappa route 13+).
I got to hang out with my wife and son and that was awesome. The reality was that the week was about to get tough with 16 pitches in rifle and then the 100 pitches in the last 2 days.
Oh well, a little bit of hard work never hurt anyone before.

piz : )

Props from the Boulder Newspaper. Thanks, I am honored!

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme

http://www.dailycamera.com/get-out/ci_22990194/chris-weidner-king-pain-rob-pizem-and-his?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com

Exponential Challenge: Day 3

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme

 Feeling a bit tired on the morning of day three I almost had to back out.My wife is about 8 weeks pregnant and was feeling ill. I couldn't go climbing on my spring break with a sick wife and feel good about it so I told her that I would stay home until she felt better. She figured that she was just having pregnancy pains and told me to go climb. I was happy because I had trained a long time for this week and to have missed out would have been a real bummer. Anyway this is what it looked like outside when we began. Did I mention that it was really cold out and windy?

 The Kissing Couple on the approach.

 Ben showing how cold it felt at the end of pitch one. Look at that windx-treme on his face and head. Just like me!!! It was by far the life saver piece of the whole week!

Climbing through the last pitch.

 After we got our ropes stuck in the intense wind and in a crack and re climbing a pitch on the way down, we were running to the next summit. Independence Monument is iconic and has the easiest access to a tower summit ever, chopped steps and drilled holes for hand holds.

 Yeah, I look fat with all the layers on and I look like a clown too!

 Here is the place where we racked up. Yes that is snow!

 Ben led and I followed as we simul-climbed the whole thing in about 10 minutes.

 Bomber gear.

 Ben bringing me to the top.

What a view at the next two towers, Sentinel Spire and the Deficating Monk way at the end of the picture.  The amount of walking and chimneying combined with the last two days was beginning to take its toll on us.The wind and cold was brutal. But I was having a lot of fun pushing it like we were.

 Then we ran to the next tower and began in the sun and in pretty good temps finally!

 Ben joining me after pitch 2

 The splitter pitch 3.

 Ben on pitch 3.

3 down and we are in good shape. Dang that down jacket is on again!

 The final tower. That roof on the is one of my free routes, it is called Spec One and goes at 13- through a 4 inch roof! We meant to do that pitch but it got wicked cold again and was in the shade. Niether of us wanted to suffer that bad again.

 Ben in the chimney.

Two happy and worn out guys on the last summit. This was going to be a good week!!

Exponential Week: The First Day

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme

Day 1
It was cold, so cold in fact that the down jackets were out and we found lots of ice frozen in the wash while on the way through Rough Canyon to the tower. I picked up Ben early in the morning because I knew that attempting a first free ascent always takes longer than you think! I was crossing my fingers about this route that I had chosen.

 Here Ben attempts to drink from the wash. No luck.

 Ben and the tower in the back.

The crack that had been aided once (as far as we know). It led to a slow time aiding, cleaning and eventually freeing it.There were plenty of loose sandstone blocks to trundle off the wall and edges to break along the way. After we took turns eating sand, the pitch was freed. Then the snow and wind came in.
We climbed the squeeze chimney (or should I say, I conned the rookie Ben into leading it) and then sent the last boulder problem to the anchor.  The most memorable portion of the route was the giant flake that I was afraid to weight in the middle of the route. Once I got past, it was a little bit of off-width without gear to a traverse through the four inch roof.  What a day to fight the cold, our fear and come out on top!

 Me with all my clothes on!

 Ben was questing up the first pitch!

 Ben joining me on pitch 2

 Ben to the summit

The view throughout the day. Sometimes it was snowing and blowing and other times we got a few seconds of sunshine. Overall it was a great start to the week!

piz : )

The Pizonucci Sequence AKA The Spring Break Exponential Challenge

Here is a little write up over my last week of climbing fun!
Expect more details and photos to come.

http://www.climbing.com/news/exponential-spring-break-1-to-64-routes-a-day-for-a-week/

Get outside and have an adventure!

piz : )

Thanks to my amazing sponsors: Arcteryx, CAMP-USA, SCARPA, Sterling Ropes, the AAC and WIndX-treme