The whole trip started a couple weeks ago when I told granite_grrl that "we are going away." Thus I committed to some real climbing for the first time this summer.

Rebecca was hoping to get to the Gunks and I was fine with that, but the weather wasn't co-operating. We ended up heading north away from the Death Floods in Binghamton to Bon Echo and Mazinaw Rock!

I got to Rebecca's an "hour early" thinking she would be at least out of bed or in some form of consciousness. Thrawted. She came the the door a few minutes after I knocked, rung, knocked, and pounded in a bath robe (it's ok, Nate, she was decent) rubbing her eyes saying "go away."

An hour later, when I was supposed to arrive, we slipped out the door and headed towards the wonderful congested cespool that we call Toronto. Of course, the traffic was bad as someone didn't leave early enough. *ahem*.....Rebecca.....

We got to the dock on Lake Mazinaw and met Chris, our boat driver and pseudo host. A while later, with Jose, Guy, Dwight, and a couple other climbers in the boat, we left for the ACC Hut.

Now, if you haven't been to the ACC Hut, let me say this: it's amazing. There is no place that I have climbed and ate and talked and had refreshing drinks all while sleeping in a tent such as this. Beautiful.

Friday night we ate some pasta a la me, which was a simple cream sauce with penne, veg, bacon, and chicken. I was reasonably happy how it turned out, but it could have been a bit better. lol

Saturday:
We got up at a reasonable hour and at some porridge. After getting some gear ready, we hopped in the boat and I got antsy that I would actually have to get on some rock and be exposed. Rebecca happened to mention that this place would "scare the crap out of you; it's exposed and the gear is bad." I thought how great this was as I love exposure and falling to my death. Just great! Anyhow, we got dropped off near the base of Vertigenous (5.5) and walked the talus to the cliff. I actually got to lead the first pitch as Rebecca wanted to do direct route on the second, which is 5.7. Well, I got off route! lol The rock is strange up there and my route finding skillz suck, so I screwed around climbing what felt harder than 5.5 to the first belay. It felt awesome to get up on rock and finally plug some gear. Rebecca arrived, climbed through, and fired through the direct route on top! Following it felt awesome, too! I don't remember particulars, but the exposure was pulling and the moves were interesting and fun. I have a feeling that pitch 2 started by climbing a cedar to some less overhung rock.

Rose Tattoo(5.6) was the second route. Now, I don't remember a lot about this route, but Rebecca led it and finished on Old Faithful (5.7/5.8).

Then Rebecca and I had an Afternoon Delight.....(5.4). I led this route, but right now the particulars evade my memory. Maybe Rebecca can chime in after her vacation.

318 (5.7) was next. Apparently 318 is the appartment number in Toronto of the people who got the FA. Pitch 1, at about 5.5, was mine to lead. It took me up a ramp which at one point left me about 20 feet above my last piece. Now, I don't usually run it out; I buy tonnes of gear to avoid this. I had to, though, and even on this easy route, it scared me a bit! Of course, i got off route again and tried to traverse this impossible bit above a little blue TCU. With some help from Rebecca I found the belay 15 feet to my left. Rebecca climbed throught and linked the last 2 pitches with one 5.8 move on simply amazing rock. It was a fantastic little climb!

Saturday night we got picked up by the boat at 7 and went for supper. Most everyone was in the Hut already. Rebecca made a wonderful curry and we drank Baileys, beer, and wine until the wee hours. After a brief stint of co-ed sauna nudity (which I wasn't involved in), we slipped to bed.

Sunday we woke up at TEN THIRTY OH GOD. It was late. But a huge breakfast of asparagus+bacon+onion+pepper+feta+eggs seemed to cheer us up! Very Happy We headed to Knob Hill (5.7). What a climb. Rebecca led every bit, as I was scared and she wanted to onsite. She did onstie, too!!! P1 scared the hell out of Rebecca (me too). There was groundfall potention for the leader for a while and exposure to jagged flesh eating rocks - a fall here would leave you mangled in your skull area. P2 had difficulties right off the belay and some tough climbing past a bolt to a HUGE cave. When I got the cave the climb got fun! We hung out for a few and Rebecca set off to "The End of All Things." You crawl out of the cave over an exposed 8m pin-protected traverse to a strenuous exit move to SWEET easy climbing. It was a beautiful lead by Mrs. Choss and was excellent to climb, too! The crux move was a weird move from a small chimney with a huge high step. Just superb.

We got down (haha....)... and headed home due to lateness of the day.


in conclusion, Bon Echo kicks butt. If you live in Ontario I don't know why you wouldn't want to go. The people are amazing - Kit, Rob, Sue, Janet, Jose, Guy, Dwight, and Chris are all top notch and interesting individuals and I thank them for their company. The climbing there will make you climb better when things aren't run out, sketched out, exposed out, and strung out. The scenery is perfect and Lake Mazinaw is a great place to swim between climbs. Don't mind the tourons and tourboats!!!


Thanks, of course, to Rebecca. It was nice laughing with you all weekend and you didn't stink too much.


Thanks all for reading!!!
sorry it's so long and possibly boring!


Very Happy

Brent