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Willow Springs

Graduate Cliff
CLIMB: Pre Skool
GRADUATE CLIFF CLIMBS
  • ​Pre Skool - Part 1 (This Page)
  • Pre Skool - Part Deux
  • ​Walk to School
  • Pick Your Poison

What the FAIL!

Well, damn it, we ran into some trouble with this one because of the freezing cold and we made a poor choice...

Here's what happened... We knew that most of the walls in Willow Springs had morning sun, and, since it hadn't rained in over two weeks, we thought we should hit that area, since the climbs might actually be dry (Willow Springs is notorious for seepage). ​We thought we'd first hit the two climbs at the Graduate - Walk to School and Pre Skool (2 pitches) - then hit the "one-off" 5.7 climb on Case Face.

When we arrived, Walk to School was in the sun and half of Pre Skool was in the shade (blocked by an adjacent protruding wall). We should've chosen to do the climb in the sun, but instead we chose Pre Skool, thinking we'd be in the sun "soon enough" on pitch 2. Wrong. Holy shit it was cold, and, that roof on Pre Skool - with frozen hands - damn! We finished pitch 1 and bailed. Read on below to find out about our experience with Pre Skool.

We will return another day to do second climb, and maybe even redo/finish Pre Skool (we will post it on Instagram and Facebook to announce when it's up.)
Picture
DATE OF CLIMB: JANUARY 11, 2019
​WALLS HIT TODAY: 1 (Graduate Cliff)
NUMBER OF CLIMBS TODAY: 1 (there are two climbs here, we will do the second climb another day, and maybe even re-do Pre Skool)
NUMBER OF PITCHES TODAY: 1 
VERTICAL 5.7 FEET CLIMBED TODAY: 110'
​NUMBER OF FALLS TODAY: 0
TAKES TODAY:  Yes
(Rick on lead over the roof)
(Stef seconding over the roof)

​DIRTY UNDERWEAR ENCOUNTERED TODAY: 0
TOTAL CLIMBS SO FAR: 80
TOTAL PITCHES SO FAR: 101

TOTAL 5.7 VERTICAL FEET ON THE TOUR SO FAR: 7,755'
NUMBER OF CLIMBS REMAINING: 157 (out of 237 - although we may redo Pre-Skool)

VERTICAL FEET REMAINING: ~42,542
FALLS SO FAR: 0
TAKES ON LEAD SO FAR:
  • Stef – several (on the three WTF climbs she has lead so far - Miniwanka, Lean & Languid, and Pauligk Pillar; As two a second on Too Many Tantrums and on this climb.)
  • Rick - 1 - (On the WTF'r Too Many Tantrums, on The Ledger, and this climb)
​DIRTY UNDERWEAR ENCOUNTERED TO DATE: 3​​​​
ARRIVED AT PARKING LOT: 7:30 a.m.
APPROACH TIME: ~20 min

STARTED CLIMBING: 8:10 a.m.
BACK AT BOTTOM:  10 a.m.
BACK TO CAR: 11 a.m. (sat in the sun to eat a snack and warm up)

Climb - Pre Skool

Picture
Rick below the roof on Pre-Skool. It's difficult to tell from this angle, but the rock is protruding out over Rick's head.
Conclusion WTF? What the FAIL! (See Day 60 - Rick & I finished the climb - P1 What the Feisty, P2 What the Forget About It!)

The difference between sun and shade was amazing, and we underestimated just how damn cold it was (below freezing). The rock was painfully cold, sapping any warmth from the hands as soon as you touched it. This certainly affected our ability to climb - especially me (Stef).

After belaying Rick, who lead the first pitch, my hands (even though I was wearing gloves) and toes were painfully cold. I began climbing, hoping that would warm me up. Then I encountered the roof (which is not too far from the start). This roof gave 6'-tall Rick significant pause - completely undercut with no feet and no "gimmie" holds. 

Rick was able to place a piece of gear above the roof, then hung on the gear and worked the moves. The only holds were two "teaser-handles" too far to the side to be useful, and a small undercling above the roof (which I discovered I couldn't reach when it was my turn.)

By the time I got to the roof, my hands were colder, not warmer. Then, I spent time struggling, trying to figure out the roof moves.
Picture
All this time, I was reaching my hands above my head, with blood rushing away from them. Then, I couldn't feel my hands any more. I couldn't grip at all. I couldn't do anything. I asked Rick to take, lowered my hands to warm them by my breath and in my jacket pockets, then BAM! Pain in my hands like I'd never felt before. It was tear- and nausea-inducing pain - it was the screaming barfies. There is a reason this experience is called the screaming barfies. ​
​

For several minutes all I could do was moan and cuss and cry, all while experiencing waves of nasuea. I wondered if I could even get past this roof - if Rick would have to lower me back down. He could hear my wails of pain and he talked supportively to me through our walkie talkies.

Determined to get past the roof and get my body moving to warm up, I opted to yard on the gear that Rick had placed. At this point I didn't give a shit about yarding on gear. I could barely hold onto the body of the sling, much less some freezing cold tiny piece of stone. My sole goal was to get moving. 

With some utterly graceless, desperate moves, I somehow managed to get myself up over the roof.

I had to use two hands to pull back the cam lever - lacking enough strength and feeling to pull back the lever with the usual thumb and two fingers on a single hand.

Although the rest of the terrain was straight forward, my body moved like a stiff board, clumsily over the rock. Every hold and every step hurt. Then, by the time I reached Rick, pitch 2 of the climb went into the shade. I was shivering violently, even with my layers on - I could not climb. We decided to bail. 

We traversed over to climber's left to a pine tree to rappel. The tat on the tree was bad, so we added new webbing and moved some dangerous rocks out of the way. By the time we got down, we thought, perhaps after warming up, we could do the other climb. But now, all of the wall was now in the shade. We were done. All we wanted was sun and warmth. 

We decided we will return to Graduate Cliff on another day to complete the other climb, and perhaps re-do Pre Skool. Right now, we hate that roof - haha! But, we both find ourselves wondering how much the cold negatively impacted our ability to do the climb and the experience of the climb. We shall see. To be continued...


​WTF 5.7 Tour: Red Rock Canyon- Climbs By Area

WTF Tour Homepage
General
The Plan
Managing the Desert Heat

Black Velvet Canyon
Day 79: Schaeffers's Delight
Day 83: Ballantine Blast
​Day 86: Lazy Buttress

Calico 1 (1st Pullout) (DONE)
Amusement Park
Day 17: Civilization 
Day 14: The Slab
Day 20: Panty Wall
Day21: Wall of Death & Hamlet
Day 24: Child's Play
Day 49: Ultraman
Day 50: Dog Wall & Fixx Cliff
Day 51: Tuna and Chips
Day 53: Viagra Towers
Day 59: Iron Man - Necco Waif
Day 80: Tuna Cookies
Day 80: The Oasis - Diamond Dance
​Day 81: CarlyQuinn

​Calico 2 (2nd Pullout)
Day 13: Meetup & Black Corridor

Day 28: Retirement Plan
Day 52: The Walrus, Running Man, & Sweet Pain
​Day 54: USS Crag & Tsunami Wall
Day 56: Great Red Book Wall
Day 66: The Gallery


​​First Creek Canyon
Day 40: Falling Stars & Bad Moon Arising
Day 42: Algae on Parade
Day 44: Schoolyard 1

Day 67: Smiley Face
Day 67: Romper Room Wall 2
​Day 77: Schoolyard 2

​Day 78: Escondite
​Day 88: Lotta Brews
Day 89: Schoolyard Bully
​Icebox Canyon
 (DONE)

Day 12: Sunnyside & Frigid Air Buttress
Day 39: Necromancer: Hop Route
Day 57: Tarkus Crack

Juniper Canyon
Day 16: Myster Z

Day 35: Mz. Why
​Day 64: Canola Cracks
Day 87: Olive Oil

Kraft Area
Day 6: Conundrum Crag
Day 7: Caligula Crag
Day 4: Three Peaks and Yin & Yang
Day 10: Winter Heat Wall
Mt. Wilson
Day 41: Limon
​
Day 72: Gentleman's Club (Silicone Sag)

Oak Creek
Day 37: Johnny Vegas
Day 65: Tan Line
Day 68: Byrd Pinnacle
Pine Creek
Day 22: Mescalito E - Too Many Tantrums
Day 23: Mescalito E - Pauligk Pillar
Day 27: Straight Shooter 
Day 31: The Abutment (Robin Trowel)
​Day 32-34: Flight Path
​Day 36: Birdland

Day 38: Diarrhea Dialect (Bullnose Wall)
​
​Day 48: Cat in the Hat
​Stick Gully
  • Day 31: Stick Gully 1 - Unknown L Start to Datura
  • ​Day 34: Stick Gully 2 - Prelude
  • Day 62: Stick Gully 3 - Box of Rain
​Day 63: Cookie Monster​
Day 69: Soloist Crack
​Red Springs (DONE)

Day 1: Red Springs (Cut Your Teeth; Hide and Seek; Happy Acres)
Day 2: Red Springs (Cowlick, Cannibal)
Day 3: Red Springs (Dickies) 
Day 5: Moderate Mecca
​Day 8: The Fringe
​
​Day 9: Reptile Rock & near The Fox
​Day 45: Gnat Man
​Day 45: Gnat Man
Day 55: Coco Crag
Day 58: Riding Hood (In Through the Out Door)
 Sandstone Quarry
Day 29: High Scalin'
Day 47: Man's Best Friend & Americrag

Day 52: The Walrus, Running Man, & Sweet Pain
Day 66: Hall of Fame

Southern Outcrops
Day 70 & 71: Chocolate Rocks 
Day 82: Illusion - Part 1

White Rock Springs Area
Day 11: Angel Food Wall - Group Therapy
Day 25: The Ledger

​Willow Springs (DONE)
​Day 15: Mother's and Outhouse
​
​Day 18: Mossy Ledges - Pussy Nuts
​
​Day 19: Mossy Ledges 2
Day 26: Graduate Cliff - Pre Skool
  • ​Day 46: Pre Skool Part Deux
  • ​Day 60 & 61: Pick Your Poison, Walk to School, & Finished Pre Skool
​Day 30: Gold Digger
Day 60: Ragged Edges - Footloose
​
​Day 61: Case Face - Space Case
​Day 73: Ragged Edges - Dumptruck, Midnight, & Diplomatic Immunity
Day 74: Peaches (Children's Wall)
​Day 75: N-Plus Ultra Part 1 (Lucky Charms & Geezer face)
​Day 76: N-Plus Ultra Part 2 (Pillar Talk & Chocolate Tranquility Fountain)
Day84: N-Plus Ultra Part 3 (Cereal Killer)
Day84: Grey Matter at Lost Creek Canyon
​Day 85: Communist Plan (Lost & Found)

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  • Home
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  • Map Details
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  • About
  • Blog
    • The 15-minutes from Red Rock Restaurant Tour >
      • Indian
      • Sushi
      • Vietnamese
    • WTF 5..7 Tour - Red Rock >
      • General >
        • The Plan
        • Managing the Desert Heat
      • Black Velvet Canyon >
        • Lazy Buttress/Whisky Peak E >
          • Day 79: Schaeffer's Delight
          • Day 83: Ballantine Blast
          • Day 86: Lazy Buttress (Climb)
      • Calico 1 (1st Pullout) >
        • Amusement Park
        • Day 17: Civilization
        • Day 20: Panty Wall
        • Day 14: The Slab
        • Day 21: Wall of Death & Hamlet
        • Day 24: Child's Play
        • Day 49: Ultraman
        • Day 50: Dog Wall & Fixx Cliff
        • Day 51: Tuna and Chips
        • Day 53: Viagra Towers
        • Day 59 Iron Man - Necco Waif
        • Day 80 - Tuna Cookies
        • Day 80 - Diamond Dance - The Oasis
        • Day 81 - CarlyQuinn Crag
      • Calico 2 (2nd Pullout) >
        • Day 13: Meetup & Black Corridor
        • Day 28: Retirement Plan
        • Day 52: The Walrus, Running Man, & Sweet Pain
        • Day 54: USS Crag & Tsunami
        • Day 56: Great Red Book Wall
        • Day 66: The Gallery
      • First Creek Canyon >
        • First Creek Slabs >
          • Day 40: Falling Stars & Bad Moon Arising
          • Day 67: Smiley Face
        • Lotta Balls Wall >
          • Lotta Brews
        • Romper Room >
          • Day 42: Algae on Parade
          • Day 67: Romper Room 2
        • Schoolyard >
          • Day 44: School Yard 1 - Deja Vu & Short Subject
          • Day 77: School Yard -Sunday School & Dunce's Corner
          • Day 89: Schoolyard Bully
        • Slot Club Area >
          • Day 78: Escondite
        • Strawberry Hill >
          • Day 43: This Ain't the F'n Way!
      • Icebox Canyon >
        • Day 12: Sunnyside & Frigid Air
        • Day 39: Necromancer - Hop Route
        • Day 57: Tarkus Crack (Tiki Cliff)
      • Juniper Canyon >
        • Jackrabbit Buttress >
          • Day 16: Myster Z
          • Day 35: Mz. Why
        • Rose Tower >
          • Day 64: Canola Cracks
          • Day 87: Olive Oil
      • Kraft Mountain >
        • Day 6: Conundrum Crag
        • Day 7: Caligula Crag
        • Day 4: Three Peaks and Yin & Yang
        • Day 10: Winter Heat
      • Mt. Wilson >
        • Day 41: Limon
        • Day 72: Gentleman's Club - Silicone Sag
      • Oak Creek Canyon >
        • Day 37: Johnny Vegas
        • Day 65: Tan Line
        • Day 68: Byrd Pinnacle
      • Pine Creek Canyon >
        • Day 22: Mescalito E - Too Many Tantrums
        • Day 23: Mescalito E - Pauligk Pillar
        • Day 27: Straight Shooter Wall
        • Day 31: Robin Trowel (Abutment) & Stick Gully 1
        • Day 32-34: Flight Path
        • Day 34: Stick Gully 2 - Prelude
        • Day 36: Birdland
        • Day 38: Diarrhea Dialect (Bullnose Wall)
        • Day 48: Cat in the Hat
        • Day 62: Stick Gully - Box of Rain
        • Day 63: Cookie Monster
        • Day 69: Soloist Crack
      • Red Springs >
        • Day 2: Cowlick and Cannibal
        • Day 1: Cut Your Teeth, Hide & Seek, Happy Acres
        • Day 3: Dickies (Seems Like a Butt)
        • Day 8: Fringe
        • Day 5: Moderate Mecca
        • Day 9: Reptile & Fox Walls
        • Day 45: Gnat Man
        • Day 55: Coco Crag
        • Day 58: Ridinghood - In Through the Out Door
      • Sandstone Quarry >
        • Day 29: High Scalin'
        • Day 47: Man's Best Friend & Americrag
        • Day 66: Hall of Fame - Ms. Adventure
      • Southern Outcrops >
        • Day 70 & 71: Chocolate Rocks
        • Day 82: Illusion Crag - Part 1
      • White Rock Springs - Angel Food Wall >
        • Day 11: Group Therapy
        • Day 25: The Ledger
      • Willow Springs >
        • Day 15: Mother's and Outhouse
        • Day 18: Mossy Ledges - Pussy Nuts
        • Day 19: Mossy Ledges 2
        • Day 26: Graduate Cliff - Pre Skool Part 1 >
          • Day 46: Pre Skool Part Deux
        • Day 60 & 61: Graduate Cliff 2
        • Day 30 - Gold Digger
        • Day 61: Ragged Edges - Footloose
        • Day 62: Case Face - Space Case
        • Day 73: Ragged Edges Area
        • Day 74 Peaches (Children's Wall)
        • Day 75 N' Plus Ultra 1 - Geezer Face & Lucky Charms
        • Day 76: N'Plus Ultra 2 - Pillar Talk & Chocolate Tranquility Fountain
        • Day 84: N'Plus Ultra Part 3 - Cereal Killer
        • Day 84: Lost Creek Canyon - Grey Matter
        • Day 85: Communist Plan at Lost & Found
    • Meet Our Tools >
      • GPS Units
      • Lifeproof Phone Cases
      • Van Life: Tankenstein >
        • Tankenstein Gets Gutted
        • Van Life: Rebuilding Tankenstein >
          • Glowing Disco Counter Top
          • Cold Food Storage
          • Bouldering-pad-bench
          • Insulation and Vent Fan
          • Quick Fixes
          • Kingsized Pullout Bed
      • Ultralight Exposure Protection Gear
    • For the Ladies >
      • Cry
      • Getting Women Climbing Outside
      • Women's Resources
    • Red Rock Canyon, NV >
      • Camper Van Epic in Vegas
      • Mapping with Lady Lockoff
      • Vegas-epic-2
      • Vegas Mini-epic 3: Really?!?
    • Joshua Tree, CA >
      • Caterpillars! Van Rescue!
      • Gram Parsons' Logbook
      • Oh Shi*! Bees!
    • Hmmm or Haha >
      • Althea Crag & Mapping Dog
      • Exposure!
      • Realities
      • Silliness
      • Utterly Heinous Approaches
      • Podcast Interview: Ogden OUtdoor Adventure
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