Aaron agreed to take a personal day off from teaching the finer points of mathematics to sixth-graders in Fort Collins on Thursday so we could climb the Third Flatiron in Boulder. It was his first trad climbing lead, and he did great. I know this because neither of us died. Of course, he was a bit surprised when this guy passed him on the first pitch, free soloing.Aaron: “What the fuck?”
Me: “That’s just Boulder, man.”
In the guy’s defense, the climbing is about 5.0 almost all the way up the route. Still, the penalty for falling is quite stiff.
I’m goofing around on the third or fourth pitch, executing a heel hook where probably no one has ever thought to do one before. Or needed to.
Me leading the second-to-last pitch.(Photo by Aaron Fredrick)
Aaron out on Kiddy Kar Ledge, starting up the last pitch.
Aaron snaps a few photos at the top.
Soon to be a MySpace profile pic, I said.
Aaron and the Flatirons.
Trying to look tough.
Scariest part of the day? Aaron on the third rappel off the back.
