I'm writing this trip report a couple of months after the trip took place. I've forgotten many details, so I'll mostly just post photos.
We arrived at Breaks Interstate Park on a Saturday, and stayed at the Catawba Lodge for a full week. We got there too late, and too tired, to climb on Saturday. But we did get to enjoy the gorgeous view from our balcony!
On Sunday, we joined our friends at the Pinnacle Rock Area. This is where we were introduced to some of the area's unique geological features like these iron oxide (?? maybe - correct me if I'm wrong) rails and pockets. I think I saw this particular one in the area of En Passant.
And we got to enjoy some fine climbing! Here's Tim climbing Stratego (5.9) at Pinnacle Left.
Below, Tim is climbing Ducks Fly Together (5.7) at Pinnacle Left. He has been lured by a beguiling stack of blocks. Alas, the stack of blocks just makes the start more difficult - I suggest avoiding it.
Later, we moved over to State Line Overlook, where the fun climbing continued! Here's Rick starting up Buena Vista (5.7).
We climbed at Business Time Crag on Monday, but I didn't have the opportunity to take pics on that day.
On Tuesday, we climbed at Desert Pony Buttress. That is where this next set of photos were taken.
Here, Tim leads Simon Says (5.7). Notice the nice hueco! The photo is © Kate (I think).
In the next three photos, you see Tim following an insanely hard route called Elk Tour. It is a 5.9+. Emphasis on the "+". It is the kind of route that makes you think you will never progress.
In the next two photos, Kate is following a much more pleasant 5.8 route (with "uber positive holds" according to Mountain Project). It is generically named Trad Practice 2. Given how enjoyable this climb is, I think they should give it a better name. I would suggest calling it "A Route You Can Actually Climb".
Later, Kathy gave Elk Tour the old college try.
At the end of the day, Marylou took this group pic (© Marylou). It looks slightly like a promo for the guidebook 😊: from left that's Tim, Kate, Rick, Mike, Scott, Kathy, Olivia, and seated are me, Bill, and Rick.
On Wednesday and Thursday, we got rain, so we took a break to explore the area and do some hiking. I don't recall exactly where I took these next photos. They were probably somewhere off the Overlook, Geological, or Ridge Trails.
What an enticing rock outcropping! Is this a route, or pure choss?
If you zoom in on the photo below, you will see the Russel Fork river in the valley. Train tracks that are used in coal mining can be seen across the river. You will sometimes hear the chuff-chuff-chuff of trains moving along those tracks while climbing at the Breaks.
Another beautiful rock tower.
By Friday it had cleared up, and we were back in business! Here, Rick watches Scott pulling a high step on the difficult initial moves of Brain Storm (5.8+)
Later in the day, Bill flashed High Iron Diet (5.10-). He's deadpointing the move at the crux below.
Saturday was our last day at Breaks. The plan was to spend the day at Business Time Crag. We got a bit lost on the way. We had to backtrack, and made it to the cliff just in time to TR "Business Socks" (5.5) which had been set up by Tim.
I only have one photo from this day, of Bill starting off on Semi-Pro (5.8+).
Reviewing these photos makes me want to go back to there ASAP. The area is a sport paradise!
One last shot of Kate and Kathy enjoying the fun features at Breaks (photo © Tim?):
