Ogawayama - p. 2

Meanwhile, back at the campsite... Cuisine on our trips varies from lazy to oppulent.  I personify lazy - instant mashed potatoes with a can of salmon glopped on top. On the oppulent side we have Mike's satanic steaks -  marinated overnight in tabasco, Jack Daniels and other secret ingredients.  Yum!  Here, the master is at work, making use of a Coleman green monster. Note the demonic glint in his eyes.

On the left, Cody (periodic business trip visitor and ropegun from Oregon), demonstrates that he DOES know how to unwind, while below Colin, Yuki and Naomi also don't seem to be suffering.

(If you're wondering, by the way, the pictures on this page come from various different weekends, at different times of year.  The Ogawayama season usually gets started in late April, when day temps can be in the 40s and overnight temps around freezing.  By August, the nights are still comfortable, but the days can be in the 80s.  This explains the hats and heavy clothes in some pictures and the shorts and t-shirts in others.) .... But really, let's get back to the rock, shall we?

Well sure.  But first we have to get there.  Did I mention that this place is not ugly?  The water is damn cold, however...

Below, Jono shows the sequence on Holiday (5.9).  The unprotected smear move up the slot, about twenty feet off the deck (first shot - feet sadly not visible) gets your heart beating nicely, but then you get a fixed pin, and above that, just get comfy and stuff cams behind the flake to your heart's content.  Ahhh - that feels GOOOOD!

Plenty of great routes on the back side of Mara Iwa as well.  Rachel, fundamentally a hiker these days, seems to have some doubts on the opening moves of Kawakami no Kouta (5.8)....

Holiday is just one route on Mara Iwa (you can translate it as Phallus Rock if you're feeling polite, but I think Cock Rock has kind of a ring to it... Let me know if you can't figure out the reason behind the name.  (Believe me, you'll be able to figure it out just as soon as you see the pic that I'll insert below....  Which will happen just as soon as I go back up and shoot one....

But even she has to admit that the view over the top is worth the price of admission.

The view left from the anchor across the summit arete is also not too shabby....

....and, hey, what a coincidence!  If you look to the right, you can see Imohto Iwa, where Sean is cleaning the second pitch of Tatsu no Kotaroh (5.9), while Yuki is just past the crux on the neighboring Casablanca (5.10a). (Different day, actually, but what the heck....)

Meanwhile, Colin has found some more slabs.  Damned if I know why he's so cheerful - looks like there're no holds at all.... Colin says that the route is Dark Crystal (5.9), just to climber's left of Selection.

On the right is Jono, at work on JMCC Route (5.9).  I wasn't there, but damn - it looks spicy gettin' to that first clip!

This sequence shows me going for a heavily chalked sucker-hold (as in "try to hold onto THIS, sucker!") on the 5.10c first pitch of Kaze to tomo ni Sarinu (Gone with the Wind), also on the Gamma Main slab.  I got unceremoniously launched just after the third shot was taken, only to discover that I should have been moving out right, not left. Can you say, duhhhhhh......?  I knew you could.

And here's Cody, showing how it should be done on the 11b third pitch (fourth, according to the guidebook) of the same route.   Damn - maybe when I grow up....

But wait a minute.  Wait a MINUTE!!  WHAT'S THIS?? The damn kids must have gnawed through that duct tape somehow.  Better take a half day off and have a picnik.... Below, Katie proclaims victory.

Much gratitude and love to Kaori, Lauren, Katie and Peter the Uberdog, for putting up with nitwit Dad.  Here, Lauren says, "this outdoor stuff ain't so bad...

And a few more people pictures, just to close things off.  Here are Naomi and Yuki, dressed for Ogawayama summer lounging.

Top to bottom and left to right: Cody, Yuki, Colin, Sean Naomi, me and Mike.

Top to bottom and left to right:  Sean, Naomi, Colin, Yuichi and me.

Jono, with Yane Iwa in the background.

And one more time, top to bottom and left to right:  Naomi, Sean, Rachel, Colin, Jono and Yuichi, with Yane Iwa in the background.

And here's a cool shot of Colin on what I think might be Kawaii Onna (Pretty Woman) 5.8.  In any event it's on the Gamma Main slab.