Frenches Dome

Climbing at Frenches Dome. (picture from 2006)

So, why not one more quick post before my ladies return home from an extra two weeks in Michigan:

Today, despite impending clouds, intermittent raindrops, and wan motivation from an already busy weekend for both of us, my friend Erik and I headed out to Frenches Dome near Mt. Hood for three laps up a 5.8 route known as Alpha Centauri. This has always been a favorite climbing spot of mine, simply because it's unique, it's beautiful, it has an amazing top-out view of Mt. Hood, and the long, easy routes give you a real sense of climbing accomplishment.

It was crowded as all get-up today, and this was the first time I'd been to Frenches since the Access Fund and the Forest Service beefed up the belay platforms, which is a nice touch even if I still disagree with the stupid NW Forest Pass fees. (My argument? Why not cut $50 million, or even $100 million — hell, why not $1 billion — from the $739 billion federal defense budget, and use it for recreation improvements on our public lands. That's where I'd love see my tax money go . . .)

Digressions aside, it was a great day to be out, and climbing the same route at Frenches Dome three times in a row beats any day mowing the grass or milling around about town . . .