Peoples,
Tahoe delivers. It always does. Every time I think about how much we have developed and how hard it is to find new stuff, something magically appears. It's been beat into me so many times now that I finally realize that Tahoe is untapped.
So it was with one of my final sessions with the crew... Dave Hatchett, The legend, sends me a pic of a new bloc out at silver lake. I don't even need the pic tho; Dave's word is gold:
Lamberto projecting "All Time" V10****
That said, this photo was BOSS. (Above). Wow. Now that's a proj! It was on. Two days later, with Zun in day care, Siemay, Dave, Lamberto, Chilly and I all rode down the closed road on the West end of Silver Lake. I had no idea what to expect, but the pic looked promising for sure.
Siemay under the "Woodpecker" V4**** mega highball. Classic. You can see the waterline low on this seasonal mega bloc. November.
Siemay working "Silver Wolf" V10****
Suffice it to say, this is one of the very best boulders in all of Tahoe. It's up there with the "Only" boulder and better than "The Beast" or the "Saddle." We spent all day on this boulder. The rock is the highest quality Sierra granite, like Yosemite. Soft on the skin. The climbing is subtle, powerful, dynamic and thought provoking.
...I think this actually may be my favorite bloc in Tahoe!
The catch: see the water line? This boulder is seasonal and only open in late fall.
All in all, we added 7 three to four star lines to the boulder, and there are at least 4-5 plums left. V5, V3, V1, V5, V7, V10 & V10... Amazing. Most areas don't even have one four star line, and this boulder has at least 5 already!
I completed the project Lamberto was trying above and called it "All Time." I did it first as a stand at V8/9 morpho, and then added the crouch which adds brilliant thuggy moves and bumps it up to 10 bangs. This line is like a better version of the four star Mountain Beaver classic, "Integrity." Better rock and more interesting moves, but perhaps slightly less aesthetic; that line is mega, too.
Siemay could not make the span on this fat-kid compression line, so she started working out a direct line that goes right up the face. This mega line has amazing movement! Wow! I rap cleaned it and did all the moves, but could not get it done at the end of that day... (I sent it the next sesh out.) Scope:
"Silver Wolf" V10**** Trends straight up and right. "All Time" V10**** starts with compression, crouched on the left arête and tops out up the arête... Despite the descriptions, these are individual lines and highly aesthetic and worthwhile. Vars can be done from one into the other and actually may be worthy as well since the movement is so sublime and the rock so good.
SPOILERS:
[ALL TIME beta: (Because it's so sick!!!) Begin crouched, left foot in mini dihedral, right on big feet, pump right to jug, then left to jug, then go big right to jug, heel right, subtle pop/reach to side pull pocket, switch feet heel left, left to jug, campus match, left foot around corner on edge, BIG reach to MEGA pinch loaf (!) mantle right and stand up to a get out of the pool mantle on jugs kinda high. MORPHO. Prob V8-12 depending on size/ape. So good. Sooooo good...]
[SILVER WOLF beta: Layback starting hold, cross left to gaston pocket, jack right foot to seam, extendo or hop to amazing sloper (pictured,) sink down, right bump to pocket, left foot to perfect hold, right hand to sick sloper match, cut, CAMPUS (!) to gaston sloper, left foot up or bump to jug seam, left hand undercling, fun 5.10 t.o. Rad. Mega. Also an all time BP.]
Hatchett puts up another four star V5. The seam on the very far left side of this pic is a really cool V12-14 mega proj that goes up a sweet line, traverses right a little and then tops out via a big move to jugs on the blunt arête. It may not look it here in this pic, but it's pretty amazing too. I cleaned it a bit, but it looked like a LONG TERM proj, and I knew my time was limited, so someone else will have to get that rig done! (Charlie? Kyle? Randy? Jesse?)
The All Time Bloc.
Dave scoping a relatively easy but slightly scary slab arête project at the end of the day.
A really nice developed moderate dyno wall with perfect stone.
"Silver Star" V7. A nice little addition to the left of the dyno corridor.
"Silver Fox" V7. A classy tall number on the All Time bloc. The left dihedral is a four star V5. Must do.
Some detail and angles on All Time & Silver Wolf.
Siemay scopes a fun warm up.
I didn't get to try this, but it looked four star!
There are several classy blocs such as this in close proximity to the All Time bloc. This is all a sub-sector of the whole Platinum boulders zone. All these blocs are detailed in the forthcoming edition(s) volume 2 & 3 of the Lake Tahoe Bouldering Guide series by Dave Hatchett.
Just doesn't do it justice... More four star lines on perfect stone on the All Time bloc.
Siemay sending.
BETA:
Silver Lake is off hwy 88. Basically, park othe west end down by the west end of the lake, or, in fall park at the closed road. We bring bikes to zip down the long hill (sweet aerobic on the way out.). Cross lake outlet at bottom just past "park when gate open" tag above, drop bikes and thwack to the boulders. There are many many boulders. Dave will have GPS for All Time in the new guide, but I believe my tag above is correct or will at least get you to sick blocs super close to the MEGA. Good Luck. With the gate closed, you're looking at a 30 min approach and 45 min exodus. Gate open is 15-20 min approach.
There is much much here to be developed. Please report all routes to Dave Hatchett with GPS and description and photo.
It's a GREAT plan to bring a harness and rope. Although an experienced climber can down climb this epic bloc, it's a bit scary and not necessary if you just bring a rope/harness. You can also work the projects this way and clean.
You have the Noah T. Kaufman, MD promise that if you visit this bloc (when it's not underwater!) you will have one of the most enjoyable climbing days of your life.
This was an amazing final gift for Siemay, Dave, others & I to be able to add some plum lines to the registry. I am super thankful to Dave for rallying the troops, and to mother nature for once again providing mystical and abstruse movement.
It's fair to say that I'm obsessed with climbing and moving over stone. Days like this day are freedom days... I might as well be able to fly!
Get psyched to push yourself to new levels! I will be writing a post soon about a major life and health change that has resulted in much higher performance and more enjoy ability and fun in my daily excursions.
Take care, y'all!
Seek perfection of character, respect others & Try Hard. Noah as usual.
