Venture Crew

Climbing Trip at Lake Mineral Wells State Park

December 8, 2001

Troop 57s newly formed venture Crew embarked on it's first event on Saturday 12/8/01. We left FUMC at 7:30 AM and drove to Lake Mineral Wells State Park. We arrived a little after 9:00 AM. We spent the whole day there, breaking for lunch about Noon & then back to the rocks until sundown.

After unloading our gear we picked some spots to set up our climbing and rappelling stations. There were plenty of other groups out there as well but fortunately "Penitentiary Hollow" is a large enough area that there were plenty of rock faces to go around. After a safety review by Mr. Anderson the boys got into their harnesses, hooked on their 'beeners & started to climb. {Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image}

Rappelling Station The Rappelling Station was just past the entrance to Penitentiary Hollow (the parks rock climbing area). About halfway between the parking spaces and the rock stairwell to the bottom of the cliff. We found a spot between some other climbing groups & set up.
		Corley going over the edge with Matt & Garrett watching, Steven's serving as the belayer.
		Garrett decided to try his luck at rappelling a couple of times.
		Jeremy going over the edge. Steven belaying, Matt & Garrett looking on. Jeremy started out slow, but by the end of the day he was "flying" down the ropes with the best of them.
		Matt takes his turn rappelling. Corley belaying him while watching some of our "neighbors" setting up a climbing station between our Rappelling Station & Climbing Station #1.
		Even Mr. Anderson got into the act. Steven belaying, Matt & Jeremy watching. You can see some of the other climbers in the background. We watched the girl on the other cliff face behind Mr. Anderson climb all day. She was really very good.
		Scott checks out the Rappelling Station & then with a little assist from Matt, hooks on & starts down the rock face. Corley serves as his belayer while Matt & Jeremy look on.
		Steven & Mr. Anderson checking out the setup before Steven decides to give it a shot.
		"This is way too much fun, I'm going again!"
Garrett	Scott	Here are a couple of mpeg movies of Garrett & Scott showing their rappelling style. (Garrett's movie is 475 KB, Scott's movie is 538 KB)
		The only problem with rappelling is once you're down you have to make that long walk back to the top.

Climbing Station #1 Climbing Station #1 was just a little ways down past the Rappelling station where two sections of rock came together forming a vertical "right angle". Mr. Anderson & the boys decided this would be a nice "warm up" climb before moving on to something harder.
		Mr. Anderson & Corley rigging up the tethers for Climbing Station #1.
		Corley trying out the freshly rigged climbing station.
		He .... Flys Through The Air With The Greatest Of Ease ...... (took us forever to get Corley to quit doin' that & give someone else a chance to climb)
		Mr. Anderson showing the boys how its done.
		Scott decides to give Climbing Station #1 a shot.
		Steven going up the cliff face at Station #1.

Climbing Station #2 Climbing Station #2 was further down the trail. This was a stand alone section of rock face with very few hand or foot holds and a an overhanging ledge about 3/4 of the way up. This climb was definitely harder than the first station and none of the climbers made it without really having to work at it. Each boy went up the rock face and "rang the bell" when he reached the top of the climb! (OK it wasn't really a bell, they just touched the carabeener and said "ding")
		Corley making his way up the rock face. Matt serves as belayer. (He Made It !!!)
		Garrett blazing his trail up the rock face. (He Made It !!!)
		Jeremy forging ahead. It took him a couple of tries but his perseverance paid off. (He Made It !!!)
		Scott making his way up the rocks to the top. (He Made It !!!)
		Steven working his way up to "Ring The Bell". (He Made It !!!)

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