big-ish granite

Last Friday evening, my buddy Dave and I loaded into my Previa and hit the road, aiming for the might Mokolume River. To be more specific, we were planning to utilize some great autumn California weather and climb some routes on the (perhaps) least-visited crags in the area: Calaveras and Hammer Domes.

Calaveras Dome ("Cal Dome") is about 1200 feet in height, and the easiest route is free at ~5.9. There are numerous other, harder options, but given our fitness, Dave and I chose "Sands of Time," an excellent 5.9 that climbs up the left side of the Dome. Starting out in a dirty-ish dihedral, with a good bit of wide, after 3 pitches we were in the neck of the "hourglass" for which the route is named. Dave led the next wide pitch, getting lost in the process... and I had the pleasure of leading pitch 5, 165 feet of clean, sustained 5.8. I say with some confidence that this is the best pitch of its grade in the state, if not the country. Seriously.

One more pitch of runout slab, and we topped out on Bonsai Ledge, from where we rappelled. One rap down a rope-eating gully, another 200' rap to an anchor on "Silk Road," and 2 more easy raps to the ground. The dog was happy to see us.

old blog

http://slobmonster.blogs.friendster.com/

saddle sores

In the past several months I've struggled with my employment status; it seems to be winning. After an unconscionably profitable summer --spent watching dust-- my rent checks are being mailed with regularity, bills are paid, but I find myself sending out resumes, asking myself questions, *answering* those questions with more questions, and, finally, considering writing.

The consideration stage is over. Welcome to my blog. Its name, "slothslog," is a combination of an unflattering nickname I had many years ago (sloth), which is also a vague homonym for my first name, and the task we all hate to love, the inimitable and undefinable sweaty and contemplative approach to something else (slog).