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The Monk, 30 firemen, Channel 3 News helicopter and US!
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Suz





Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 3186

PostPosted: 11/11/2008, 11:07 pm    Post subject: The Monk, 30 firemen, Channel 3 News helicopter and US! Reply to topic Reply with quote

OH MY HECK!

.......to be continued Wink
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RedRoxx44
Queen of the Walkabout




Joined: 15 Jan 2004
Posts: 1167

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 6:56 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Hopefully ya'll were assisting or observing, not the focal point!! If so it seems everyone is intact in the photo, fortunately---
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azhiker96





Joined: 05 Jan 2003
Posts: 1419

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 7:07 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I'm guessing those intrepid three happened to pick a time to climb when a bunch of buff firemen were climbing.
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Suz





Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 3186

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 7:08 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Oh gosh..............what a day. Trying to get to the photos....and the story....but yes we are all fine.
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PageRob





Joined: 03 Mar 2005
Posts: 859
Location: Page, Az.

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 7:21 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Hmm...
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Matt Hoffman





Joined: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 701
Location: Grantham, NH

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 8:21 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Suz, why doing you always leave us in suspense like this? Please stop doing that, and just spit it out already!
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paintninaz





Joined: 06 Jan 2003
Posts: 3515

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 9:49 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Matt Hoffman wrote:
Suz, why doing you always leave us in suspense like this? Please stop doing that, and just spit it out already!


I think she just hasn't had time to write up the day and get the photos all together, but was so excited about our day she HAD to spill something!

azhiker96 wrote:
I'm guessing those intrepid three happened to pick a time to climb when a bunch of buff firemen were climbing.


Just our gosh darn luck! Ok

We did some assisting, some observing, and were somewhat of a focal point... nutty ended up an hour late for our Anchors class, but we had a fantastic day!

I'll let Susan tell the story... Mr. Green
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“Friends make the bad times good — and the good times unforgettable.”
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Suz





Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 3186

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 10:12 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Yes, Multi yes, Multi yes! Multi
Back in the middle of October we had been asked by one of our AMC instructors (Eric) if we would like to make a trip up The Praying Monk on Camelback. It's considered to a classic climb and has been rated the Best Valley Climb in AZ from the New Times for a couple of years. We settled on Veteran's Day and began working out the details. Chin Scratching

Yesterday was that day!! Spinning I do think it's important to add that we had doubts about whether or not it was a good idea for us and if we were all ready for the challenge. We met early in hopes of avoiding other climbers on the same route. We spent about 15 minutes waiting for a parking space and began to sort and unload our gear. Tracy won for being the most color coordinated...again! We arrived at the head wall where a couple of other early birds were on the first little climb so we just opted for a route that was a few yards away and that worked fine. This was an easy route, probably very similar to many of the scrambles we have done hiking but we geared up to get as much practice on the rope as possible. We got belaying practice and more practice doing our calls without seeing each other. Good clear communication is critical and serious stuff. This was a great spot for that sort of practice. Just as Eric, our lead climber, was stepping on the rock a massive group of helmeted people came in our direction. It was like a bus load of tourists being dropped off at West Fork during fall color. It was a group of firemen Wink in some sort of recuse training course......and they planned to climb the Monk............ALL OF THEM. Shocked Eric and Tracy zipped up the route quickly. Just before Ambika and I could get moving one of the firemen casually mentioned the location of a nearby rattlesnake. We hurried along at that point......probably a little quicker than we would have before hearing about the rattlesnake. However we did have to pass back by that area on the way down so that was sticking in my mind the rest of the day.

Turns out that when we reached the base of the Monk there were two firemen that zipped ahead of their group to sort of "save" the climb for the large group. It seemed a little rude since we were there first but we went to Plan B at that point....climb up the multi-pitch Hart Route (knowing that this has been a bad bee area in the past) and rappel down Pedrick's Chimmey. The mutli-pitch thing was great practice for us, too. The climb wasn't scary until we traversed on a hand line into bee territory. We could see them buzzing above the place we were anchored in at. I did have my first nail casualty here during this part of the day. I got a silly pebble stuck in the buckle of my pack and couldn't clip my wast belt. My pack wasn't heavy but it was full and the rock was like kitty litter here so I really wanted that pebble out....had to sacrifice a nail to get the silly pebble unstuck. At some point I pocket called a friend that works as a photographer for a local news station that happened to be having breakfast with some other photographers. I guess he figured out that I was climbing and sent me a text.

We took a nice short stroll over to Pedrick's Chimney where we found ANOTHER fireman. Thankfully this one held the group at the bottom so we could do this rappel and press on with our day. We had Tracy go first...because that's what we do! She's good and seems not to mind the extra challenges that go along with that duty. This time she was told the ropes might be uneven and the end and to try to even them out while on rappel......not sure that possible. The unexpected bonus she got was being to first of our group to rappel into the middle of a group of about 15 firemen all watching attentively. I suspect we could go a lifetime and never really have that chance again.....I know I enjoyed it! The poor guys hadn't really had more than a couple hours of training before being thrown out on the rocks and ropes so they were curious about all of our gear, very inquisitive and a pile of fun. The even posed for a picture or two with Tracy Wink

After packing up our gear from the rap we finally headed over to the Monk........yep, more firemen there. This group was about the same size as the last. They still had about 6 more guys to climb and rap so we sat and waited. We watched them climb in there chunky boots.....heard them say a few bad words and noticed a few just opted out of this part of their day completely. It is a very exposed little piece of rock. My first thought after looking at the climb was.....oh, well..........do we really need to do this? Nah.................I've had enough fun. Tracy and Ambika were still up for it so I needed to join in the fun, too. Eric did the lead climb---taking up the rope and clipping it into the bolts. I was belaying him while Tracy was gearing up. Ambika was on camera duty at this point. Tracy opted to take the more challenging route at the start and also got the harder job of unclipping all the quick draws that Eric just put up. Ambika flew up the rock quickly even taking a few breaks along the way. I think she might have been the fastest of all of us here. The first step was the hardest on this climb. I even heard Ambika say a few things I have never heard her say before. There was a lot of exposure to be stepping into. I felt exactly the same way when it was my turn. I was finding my throat got really dry, guess I was breathing hard. Thankfully we all made it to the top without any real issues. It felt really good to get on the top, lock in and sit down. Tracy was an amazing belayer!! She smooth and steady....also quick....in fact, she was soo good I think I kissed her when I got there. Tracy, did I kiss you? We snapped a few pictures but needed to hurry along because our Anchors class was starting at 6pm and it was looking like we might be late. The sun was setting quickly. Tracy did the rap first, as usual. Just as I started to get on the rope a news helicopter started to buz us. The sun was setting, the sky was amazing and we were in a hurry. Just as I started to rappel the news helicopter started filming.......I looked around trying to figure out what they were shooting....thinking maybe it was the large croup of firemen on the Chimney.....but nope, it was ME! A few of the firemen yelled up to confirm the camera's location. Geez, how fun....too bad I missed the news. I don't even know if they used it. Ambika had a little extra adventure on this rappel but I didn't see it so she can tell you more.

It was dark or nearly dark when we got off the Monk but had the light of the full moon to help a little. We still had one more rappel to do in the dark....and that rattlesnake to walk past. We did that quickly and smoothly. I tried to get a few of the firemen to escort us past the rattlesnake but they really wanted nothing to do with it. We made it to class at 7:20....just 1 hour and 20 minutes late. Thankfully our instructor wasn't upset because we had a climbing excuse!

We're headed to the Promise Land/Prescott this weekend for more fun and learning.

Please jump in Tracy and Ambika to fill in what I missed. You guys ROCK! So glad we got to do this together.
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Suz





Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 3186

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 2:07 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Ambika--Awesome shots of the trip!
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desertgirl





Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 3350
Location: Chandler, AZ

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 2:16 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Photos up .... What a day!
I have never been to Camelback before this trip -- Camelback will be a climbing location for me. Some day I will hike there as well...

That 1st step onto the little ( ok- big if you are on belay) ledge was a bit scarey - Yep I think I expanded my vocabulary a bit. Once I settled my nerves off that - I had a rather enjoyable climb up. Tracy was the super star - perfect belay. Suz made it up just in time for spectcular sunset...that was awesome!

On that rappel off the Monk - right as I started the winds picked up and as I came off the wall for a free rappel I started to spin slowly - a good 360. I had read about it so I managed to calm myself and kept rapping down. I'd have rather not had that 360....

We did our final rappel off the head wall in the dark.
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paintninaz





Joined: 06 Jan 2003
Posts: 3515

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 7:41 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I added a few photos. Susan and Ambika were snapping plenty so I rarely bothered to pull my camera out...probably just as well, the batteries died just before sunset anyway, even with the few I did take. Rolling Eyes

Ambika, I did that 360 spin (several spins actually) after coming off the wall of the Monk too, it was a little unsettling at first b/c I hadn't remembered doing that on the free rappel in class, but I thought it was kinda fun.

Great day!...perfect weather, lots of climbing, good friends, full moon, gorgeous sunset, but rappelling into a group of 15 firefighters...priceless. Ok
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“Friends make the bad times good — and the good times unforgettable.”
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threedogz





Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 668
Location: Chandler

PostPosted: 11/12/2008, 8:59 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I think I can set aside my acrophobia so I get a chance to rappel into a group of 15 firefighters.

Sounds like you guys had a great time, great pictures.
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Hikngrl
Canyoneering is my 'Happy Place'




Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 5578
Location: Peoria, AZ

PostPosted: 11/13/2008, 5:40 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I shouldn't be missing all this fun! Crying or Very sad Glad you guys had such a good time!
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Suz





Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 3186

PostPosted: 11/13/2008, 6:08 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Oh Diane, we have high hopes of doing it ALL over again when you are ready! Promise! Thinking about even ordering up the firemen when the time is right...LOL.
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Suz





Joined: 27 Nov 2005
Posts: 3186

PostPosted: 11/13/2008, 6:56 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

oh oh oh---on the phone with Channel 3 RIGHT NOW!!

they apparently just showed the footage----and a teacher friend saw it and called me a few minutes ago saying the news station wanted to know who we were and to call them.....so I did!! on hold.....change your channels quick!!!!! how fun.
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