Wasootch Slabs

October 7- I made plans with Domhnall to do what I thought would be some hiking in the Bow Valley, but he had other plans. I picked him up at 8am, after he had worked all night, and loaded up all his gear. I should have been suspicious when I saw everything he was loading up into the truck. We headed off to the Kananaskis area, and went to a small one pitch crag where he proceeded to teach me how to rock climb. After several hours there, we drove the back way into Canmore. On the way it started to snow.

October 8- We got up early and headed off to the Wasootch Slabs. This is a perfect place for a beginer climber. The approach is all of 5 minutes and the slabs have numerous bolted climbs. So after a bit more of a lesson, we headed up, with Domhnall leading the pitches.

The weather was good, and we had a great time climbing.

Later on in the afternoon, we decided that I should try my first lead. I had already seconded the pitch, but even though I was familiar with it, leading it was a whole different ballgame. Domhnall was encouraging, and eventually I made it up to the top. What a great feeling.

October 9 - The next day we went off to do Grey Waves next to Kid Goat. The approach was about 1 hour, around the waste disposal site. This is 3 pitches long, but we did half pitches so that Domhnall could give me advice as I was going up.