Bouldering the Backwaters- Montana Bouldering: Return to the Corestone

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Return to the Corestone

After sighting this beauty we had no idea what to even call it. Presenting the now named Corestone in all of its awesomeness. This weekend we were able to get back to the Corestone with some pretty excellent conditions. Jeremy came along and was able to capture photos. We setup on what we thought would be the gimmie line but it turned out to be a balancy, weird, gravity-fighting and super sharp problem. Guess this project will have to wait for next time.

Tom sussing the moves
Photo: Jeremy Champion

Some things look so easy in theory...
Photo: Jeremy Champion

Another angle of the bottom
Photo: Jeremy Champion

After getting beat up on what we thought would be the easiest and most aesthetic problem we moved onto what looked like one of the more impossible ones. I was somehow able to get the FA of Hookworm. I attribute my success to the split tips that created little hooks that seemed to grab onto the crux pocket. This is a sweet little number.

FA of Hookworm
Photo: Jeremy Champion

Thanks for the mementos Corestone.
Photo: Jeremy Champion

We then moved on to a couple others. We were able to get up a very nice little crimp problem Prickly Pear and try a couple more. Our fingers were pretty thrashed at this point it was time to move on.

Tom working the bottom of Prickly Pear
Photo: Jeremy Champion

Another proj this one will surely go it just needs a touch more cleaning
Photo: Jeremy Champion

Awesome bomber features for feet on the proj pictured previously
Photo: Jeremy Champion

Wicked sloper mantle project
Photo: Jeremy Champion

After getting thoroughly thrashed we decided to have a go at The Breather. Tom and myself were able to get the 3rd and 2nd Ascents respectively. Yeah for horizontal slot tunneling!

The Breather
Photo: Jeremy Champion

Post Breather celebration
Photo: Jeremy Champion

Success on The Breather brought us to another block that we had spied years ago but is always wet. This sweet A-Frame yielded a great crack problem and a couple more projects.