Tuesday, September 12, 2017

6_17_to_24_2017 City of Rocks - birds, climbers, and climbing

I went up to City of Rocks Idaho for a week in late June to meet up with a group of long time climbers for exercise, birding and socializing.  Really nice weather and fun people and some good birds too!  Here is a Green-tailed Towhee checking out the fine granite.
Here a Red-naped Sapsucker brings some tasty red ants in for the baby birds in the nest.
A minute later out he comes with a mouthful of droppings and other debris - gotta keep the nest clean!
Another shot, this time the fast exit move!
A Warbling Vireo singing while on the nest.  This seemed like unusual behavior to me since birds don't normally 'advertise' nest location.
A Dad Downey Woodpecker brings in some grub for the little ones.
Dad exiting with nest debris while Mom delivers some food.
The Castle Rocks area with a storm moving in.
Typical fun climbing at the Castle Rocks area.
Me, Roger, Marshall and Kim at Kim's cabin outside of Castle Rocks.
Kim and Marshall hiking in to climb at City of Rocks.
Me leading a fun route at the Building Blocks area at City of Rocks.
The view from the base, a beautiful area.
Another fun route at the Building Blocks, down low.
Higher up, same route.
Marshall following a harder arete climb.
Kim climbing, Marshall belaying, father/son team!
The view of the crew at the group campsite :-)
Group camp parking and view.
Kim delivering yummy pizza to the crew at the group camp.
Tall tales being told!
Ray happily displays the pizza.  Ray organized the event, thanks Ray!
Jim loving his new Donny TP!!  :-)
Climbing at the Decadent Wall, great stuff there.
My hat for the trip :-)
Roger on a very cool arete climb.
Roger and Kim on "Morning Glory", a really great 3 pitch 5.10d route.
City view.
Roger coming up the crux pitch.
Kim working his way up the crux pitch.
Kim following the final pitch.
The 3 of us on the summit of Morning Glory.  Good fun!
Tequila sipping time!
Part of the crew at dinner.
Angela and Jim.
More group action at dinner time.
Heidi and Ray.
Sunset view from camp.
Campfire tales!
An old cabin I saw while starting the drive home.  Another really fun summer trip!

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