4/28/09 - Hypothermia in Black Velvet Canyon - You know, the usual!
Our goal today was in Black Velvet Canyon – a climb called The Delicate Sound of Thunder. It was far colder and far more windy than forecast. Black Velvet is cold even when the hike in is brutally hot. We went in hoping for the best.
We hiked up to a 10a climb to warm up (Sand Stone???). This was a VERY fun edge climb – unfortunately the conditions were hideous. The wind gusts were nearly blowing us off the wall – no joke. And it was cold. I did this climb with numb fingers and hair in my eyes and mouth after my head band blew off. Argh.
The Delicate Sound of Thunder is, well, delicate in terms of the movement needed. There was NO way we could get on this climb given the wind gusts. It was clear we would have been blown right off the wall. We sat there freezing wondering what to do. It was such a hike and a rough truck ride to get to where we were. We hated to think the day would entail mostly taking our packs for a long, steep hike.
We decided to scramble around the corner to a climb called Only the Good Die Young. The sun came around making it a wee bit better. But the wind – it never stopped. We did four freezing and blasting pitches of this climb. Had the conditions been better, I might have thought it fun (especially the third pitch). As it was, I was shaking uncontrollably because I was so cold.
We took no photos on this climb - I forgot the camera on terra firma. Too bad because the configuration of the wall would have allowed really terrific photos.
We rapped down and headed out. Though we got in very few pitches I still felt like I’d run multiple marathons. Something about hypothermia and 60 mph wind gusts all day really takes it out of a person.
Our goal today was in Black Velvet Canyon – a climb called The Delicate Sound of Thunder. It was far colder and far more windy than forecast. Black Velvet is cold even when the hike in is brutally hot. We went in hoping for the best.
We hiked up to a 10a climb to warm up (Sand Stone???). This was a VERY fun edge climb – unfortunately the conditions were hideous. The wind gusts were nearly blowing us off the wall – no joke. And it was cold. I did this climb with numb fingers and hair in my eyes and mouth after my head band blew off. Argh.
The Delicate Sound of Thunder is, well, delicate in terms of the movement needed. There was NO way we could get on this climb given the wind gusts. It was clear we would have been blown right off the wall. We sat there freezing wondering what to do. It was such a hike and a rough truck ride to get to where we were. We hated to think the day would entail mostly taking our packs for a long, steep hike. 
We decided to scramble around the corner to a climb called Only the Good Die Young. The sun came around making it a wee bit better. But the wind – it never stopped. We did four freezing and blasting pitches of this climb. Had the conditions been better, I might have thought it fun (especially the third pitch). As it was, I was shaking uncontrollably because I was so cold. 
We took no photos on this climb - I forgot the camera on terra firma. Too bad because the configuration of the wall would have allowed really terrific photos. 
We rapped down and headed out. Though we got in very few pitches I still felt like I’d run multiple marathons. Something about hypothermia and 60 mph wind gusts all day really takes it out of a person.
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