Photos by roninthorne

Grady Brydges styles up the fun moderate Superman, Secret Crag #7

Mike Farnsworth at the anchors of The Lightness, 5.12+

Somewhere on the cliffs that line the winding North Fork of the Potomac River in Germany Valley, West Virginia, a western climber enjoys steep rock between spring showers.

With a fresh bag of bolts and hangers from the now-defunct PBC, my gear dries after a month in storage in a cave at the top of the Stormwatch Wall while I was away working in Portland, OR.

Looking past "The Binky Crisis" and the Shaman Wall to the far side of NDC and the Amphitheater, with the Stormwatch Wall on the right end. At this point, I was the only one putting up routes here, and all this was just waiting for me and my trusty Hilti TE-10A. Good times...

Looking North across Diamond Dog, past the Outpost (short tower), with the Benadrill Wall and the Hall of Doors (aka Mr. Butterworth's Wall) to the right. Still dozens of lines left to go into this area, unless AZ climbers just sit back and let it become a freeway.

A boulder that sits on the shoulder of the APC, I shot this just before chalking up for a sketchy-as-hell run up the overhanging offwidth, without a spotter or pad. Ah, to be young and stupid again... No harder than 5.10+, as I recall... of course, I used to do a lot of drugs in those days...

With the object that gave the Alien Porn crag its name prominently displayed in the foreground, Lower Devils, Oak Flat, and the Leap spread out below in grandeur and incredible beauty.

Looking toward the distant ramparts of the Supes, from high atop the Alien Porn crag.

Hiking west along the old road from the power station, you eventually come to the top of a peak which we nicknamed the Alien Porn crag for the odd billboard-sized radar target on top, used by military and other planes for instrument flying.

My grand daughter eyes the rack and wonders when she will get her first climbing shoes and harness...

Mike Fisher, aka Doc Goodwack, getting ready for the enormous crank and throw at the beginning of his route "Defenders of the Faith", Deadly Ninja Walls, Smoke Hole Canyon.

A quick sketch of the approach trail and most of the lines on the true Stormwatch, the north-facing wall where I spent so many days on hooks and rappel, so many nights bivvied under the desert stars; freezing, baking in the heat, sitting out monsoon rains in my van... and loving every minute of it. The hourglass yellow lines on the left end are the Exit Ladders, easy 5.6 or 5.7 trad/mixed lines that put you on top and set up a nice TR or two as well. The yellow line wandering off left is the 5th class bouldering exit up the dihedral/chimney and through the formations to the top. The lines on the lower wall are all trad and fairly moderate, if usually filthy after long neglect. You can rap in and clean from anchors on the ledge above. Illegal Dihedral and the climbs next to it can just be seen at the far right end of the photo.

Ronin, the Curmudgeon, eyeballing the terrain ahead on a steep project in The Hole, somewhere in West Virginia.

Smilin' Amy Ontiveros powers into the boulder start of "Horse With No Name", 5.9, near Smoke Hole Canyon.

The good Doctor enjoys warm weather under fall colors on the moderate clip-up "Gypsies", near Smoke Hole Canyon.

Snow and shadows tell the tale of cold temps and north-facing lines on a sunny midwinter day at the Stormwatch Wall, Northern Devil's Canyon. This pic was taken on the way to the FA of Zero Celsius, the amazing arete route on the right end.

Prepping for the final TR of Gypsy Conditions before bolting.

Cindy Gray contemplates a wealth of holds on the new line "Working Class" (5.5), with the upgraded 5.8 "Sendero D'oro" to the left.

Cindy Gray stands at the base of "Working Class", a new moderate on the Troll Wall.

The Troll Wall, with Sendero D'oro on the left. A new first and third bolt have been added to this hand-drilled 5.8 line to ease it out of the R/X category.

Mike Gray (roninthorne) working out the beautiful stemming moves halfway up SuperNatural in freezing sunshine.

The west end of the arch that forms the Entrance Walls. Although subject to a good deal of attention from passing traffic and fishermen taking advantage of the prime trout habitat of the South Branch, the wall offers a change from the Franklin "scene" with numerous TRs and trad lines. The base has no real trail and has seen only minimal efforts at stabilization, so please tread lightly and watch your step.

Eddie Begoon, captured in BW by Michael Fisher

Ronin gunning for the top with Andreas C and Mike F on the spot

Mike Gray (Ronin) spotting Mike Fisher (Dr. Goodwack) on another sunny Hone classic.

The old rockrat and the young gun, prepping for some smouldering on a fine afternoon in Hone...

Eddie Begoon, hanging it out in Hone Quarry, with Mike (Dr. Goodwack) Fisher and Andreas Czerwinski on the spot.

At work on some new lines, back in the day...

weasels gnawed my shoes

Off for another afternoon of solo winter bouldering in full conditions

Stopping on the shoulder of the Grand for a photo op... perfect conditions!

Michael Fisher, bolting ground up onsite on aid, fighting for the last bolt before a complete white-out and wind chills in the teens forced him to bail while bolting Franklin's newest hard line, A Moment of Clarity (5.11+/-). Some wanker would come back during the following days to steal the gear abandoned in the storm, forcing Mike to simply apply top anchors and leave most of the loose rock on the route.

More tastey treats in the Appetizers. This one was short but sa-weeeeT!

Crankin' some of the old faves with Eddie Begoon on a perfect Virginia winter day.

The Impossible Scream, V1+/-, overhanging crack up a stray boulder on a high ridge, likely unrepeated since FA in 2002.

Goofing off after a run on the sharp and reachy Terminator Traverse.

Another shot of the Disombobulator corner, reverse angle, so don't be surprised if it looks wrong.

Digital photo, I don't know the specs, sent to me by a friend. That hold really sucked, and Jim's focus is incredible in this shot.

roninthorne working the bottom eliminations on Lower Resort Rocks, with jim_sheff, visiting Yorkshire honemaster, on spot. Photo by grit_tradman

A short boulder start leads to flaring crack moves and psycho pro up a soft Dakota sandstone wall, ending in a high perch with a killer view of the Spanish Peaks and the Sangre de Cristos. Trad gear and anchor. Rap anchors are scattered across the top of the formation.

Kickin' it at the American Alpine Club Ranch after a leisurely wander up the Exxum.

The draws tell the tale on the FA of Brother Love, 5.11R/X, 11 bolts, ring anchors, 19' of overhang.

After the haul across the pass, and descent along the glaciermelt streams that feed the Lonesome Lake, the goal of Pingora rises, at last, against a perfect August sky.

The boulderfileds, just part of the fun on the wonderful, brutal, unforgettable hike in to the Grand.

Rappin' off right of F4 (I think that's where it was, anyways...) over some bolted choss that was scarey just to look at... much less lead.

Looking across the valley from camp below the SE shoulder of Pingora.