Given all the driving we did the previous weekend we opted for a closer weekend of climbing. We headed to Blacksmith Fork with the Steck’s to Hardware Wall. We’d kind of been scared away from this zone due to the stiff grades, the warms limited to 5.11a and 5.11c, but we’ve both been climbing really well lately so we thought we could give it a try. I’m glad we did.
While the entrance of Blacksmith Fork is only in Hyrum, about 1.5 hours away. The last 10 miles or so takes some time due to the rocky condition of the road, about 10 or 15 mph is about all it will allow in our van at least. I actually had been down this road last year on my motorcycle and noticed how nice the camping would be.
After finally getting there we had to wade across the Left-hand Fork of Blacksmith River, but not before we said hello to some horses that are corralled near there. The wall is limestone, something we haven’t climbed much of this summer, but need to get more used to before our Croatia trip in a few weeks.
The wall has a very soft 5.12a which I was able to on-sight (two in two weekends!). Carly wasn’t quite able to get it, but figured out her moves and got it on Sunday. I started working another really good climb there rated 5.12b, but it is a stiff ‘b’ I think. The moves are really good and I think I’ve got them memorized for the next time we get there—hopefully in a week or two.
