Rock Canyon - Provo, UT

While in the Salt Lake City/Provo area we did a little climbing.  We had been in this area last time we came through here so very comfortable going back. 

After doing a couple of short routes we decided to do an all day 3 pitch climb.  5.3, 5.5, 5.7. 

The fist pitch was a traditional climb, no anchors, but it is an easy 5.3 climb.  Barbara led this route and managed to set two Camelot's as protection.  At the top she found a nice anchor to set a top rope belay for me to climb it.

The second pitch was a bit trickier at 5.5, however it was a sport route with bolts set pretty close together.  This route was designed as a lead climber instruction route. 

Barbara led. She again set up a belay from the anchors on top.  Something we are fairly new at. She sets a really nice anchor and looks pretty pleased with herself.  We do need to work on our rope management.

The third pitch was a 5.7 sport, however there was an easy 5.3 up the side so you set a top rope anchor.  Barbara feeling pretty good about todays climbing started up.

When she got to the top she found "Open Cold Shut" anchors.  We are pretty nervous about these things.  We have a couple of quick draws with small ends that fit well over the anchors, this alleviates the problem of the rope slipping/flipping off while on the climb or rappelling.

Barbara was having trouble getting the quick draws set, so I scrambled up and completed the set.  We rapped down, Barbara made the climb I wasn't feeling it. 

To get home we rapped down the second pitch and then chose a better set of rappel anchors on a different route.  The question of the days was: "Is the rope long enough to reach the bottom?"  Didn't know for sure because we didn't climb up the route we were descending.  So Barbara simply leans over the edge and asks the climbers on the route next to us if our rope was down, it was.  So down we went.

We had so much fun doing this that when Joseph (our son) came through we dragged him up it also.

Kids and there phones....

I was feeling pretty good about the routes from the other day so led. I had the camera on my belt so here is a shot from an anchor.

Already knowing the way makes the route back pretty easy.  Joseph heading home.