We've come here to help the RRGCC raise money for their annual Mortgage payement in order to secure climbing in the Perdergrass-Muray Preserve (more info on Petzl.com). The area is under the menace of closure due to oil drilling, no kiding the forest is full of Oil rigs pumping it up.

oil pump

Basically everyone has arrived for the Trip, The Euro gang got in early and the North American crew is almost complete. Today Dani Andrada (ESP), Said Belhaj (SUE), Tony Lamiche, (FRA), Gèrome Pouvreau (FRA), Liv Sansoz (FRA), Steve McClure (GB), Martina Cufar (SLO), Marietta Uhden (GER), Daniel Dulac (FRA), Mickael Fuselier (FRA), Gerhard Horhager (AUS), teamed up with Dave Graham, Joe Kinder, Chris Lindner, Sonnie Trotter (CAN), Whitney Boland and Lev Pinter (CAN) toured the Motherlode, Chocolate Factory and Bob Marley areas looking up at the Bounty Routes for the weekend.

Gonna make it ?

First impressions of the rock here: incredible is a weak word to describe the quality, also incredible was a snake attempting one of the Bounty Routes, what about a 3 foot black snake slithering around the 4rth bolt. Sick. Finally we managed to sneak a couple of routes in at Bob Marley, our man of the day Erwan Le Lann team manager even permitted himself to roast Steve McClure, on Dog Leg 12a, the huge body span of Erwan fit perfectly , as a handicap he climbed the route in hiking shoes !

Climbing with approach shoes !

Late arrivals came with Sean McColl, Emily Harrington, Daniel Wood and Lynn Hill. Chris Sharma is due to arrive on Thursday and our good ol'friend Timmy O'Neil should wander in on Friday.

Almost last but not the least, while we were waiting for the late Americans, Katie Brown and Cedar Wright, these two actually held an RRGCC benefit slide show and book signing at Rock Sport climbing gym in Louisville. Rob Butsch, owner raised $5000 in the evening for RRGCC.

Sounds like we're gonna make it. See ya'll around this week.