The crew is back from Texas with a whole ton of rock pulled down. Jon Cardwell, Paul Robinson, Vasya Vorotnikov and Daniel Woods spent their Christmas and New Year break ticking off rattlers and classic problems in Hueco Tanks State Historical Park.
Hueco was exceptionally busy over the break with strong young Euro climbers like Gabri Moroni from Italy who was visiting for the first time and pulling down problems like “Diaphanous Sea” (V12).
Despite the crowds, the boys made speedy ascents of classics such as “Theatre of the Absurd” (V10), “Flower Power” (V11), “Diaphanous Sea” (V12), “Shaken Not Stirred” (V12), and “Crown of Aragorn” (V13). In all, the gang of four pulled down 35 problems V10 to V13 in one week of climbing.
Daniel Woods sent 14 of his 15 problems in single day ascents, including “Crown of Aragorn”. He nearly flashed “Diaphanous Sea”, but the first attempt was botched when his foot slipped off the starting foothold. On “Shaken Not Stirred” (a.k.a. “Right Martini”), Daniel was just practicing the starting moves of the long classic line when to everyone’s surprise he took it all the way to the finish. “I wasn’t tired so I decided to keep going”, Daniel said.
The one "rest day" was spent climbing the classic multi-pitch sport route, "Sea of Holes" (5.10a). After scrounging around for an extra harness, Steve Woods convinced Paul that it would be fun. Paul had so much fun on this, his third route ever, that he talked Daniel and Vasya into climbing it. A quick lesson in setting up a sport belay and the two were off on their own voyage. Near the top of the second pitch, Daniel could be heard shouting, "This route is dope!"
A rest stop in Ponderosa, New Mexico on the way home allowed the boys to stretch their legs and knock off a few of the best lines there, as well.
More photos of The Boys In Hueco Tanks
