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Trip Reports

Climbing with Dave!

By June 20, 2020No Comments

On Thursday one of our longest and favorites guests came back for his first day outside for 2020 at Lover’s Leap.  Dave has been climbing with us for at least the last 7 years and he has logged in over 100 different pitches.  Since it was his first day out, we hit some of the classics on the East Wall of Lover’s Leap.

Showing up and being the first party on the wall, we decided to go do Bear’s Reach, probably the most popular climb at the Leap.

Dave on the first pitch of Bears Reach

 

“I used to wear those socks, in the 80’s!”

After quick work on Bear’s Reach we headed over to another five star classic on the East Wall, Haystack.  This great climb has a crux on the second pitch through a three foot roof, which if not done right, can be tricky.

Following the first pitch of Haystack

 

For a third lap, options were a bit limited with climbers on most of the routes.  As we walked the base, passing climbers starting up the classics we came upon the often overlooked East Wall Route. This climb is fantastic on the way it weaves its way up to the top of the cliff.

Finishing the first pitch of the East Wall Route

Starting on a fun blocky corner for the first pitch leads to a big spacious ledge looking towards the Line and the rest of Lover’s Leap.

The awesome dikes of the East Wall with a climber on the Line!

The second pitch has  long and wild traverse through the center of the wall, ending up on Bushy(less) Ledge.  This is where at least three different routes converge and when we showed up, two parties were there. Instead of waiting and also already climbing the normal last pitch, we cut off right and finished on Ham Sandwich.

Alternative 5.7 slab finish

On top we ran into our friends Ed and Kathy.

Ed finishing East Cracks!

Another great day of climbing at Lover’s Leap with Dave.  If you are coming to Lake Tahoe, whether it South Lake Tahoe, or North Lake Tahoe, you can’t beat the Leap for quality multi pitch climbing.  Less than 30 minutes from South Lake Tahoe, and just over an hour from Truckee/Donner Summit.  Come climb with Lover’s Leap Guides!

Petch

Petch has been climbing since 1989 and has passion teaching and guiding as much as he does for climbing. At the end of an eight month climbing trip that took him and his partner from Joshua Tree in Southern California to Devils Tower in the eastern part of Wyoming, and everything in between, the final stop turned out to be Lover’s Leap. The right turn towards Lover’s Leap landed Petch in the campground in 1993. Climbing for eight months and a bank account of zero, he quickly found a job at the Strawberry Lodge. Falling in love with Lover’s Leap and Strawberry he found making a home easy. A guiding job opened in 1996 with teaching youth backpacking and rock climbing. The exciting future of guiding as a full time profession led to the opening of Lover’s Leap Guides in 2003. With his enthusiasm and knowledge of Lover’s Leap, Lover’s Leap Guides has become the most popular and busiest service to climb at Lover’s Leap. He has spent countless hours working with the Access Fund, CRAGS, and the Forest Service to maintain trails, protect nesting raptors, and community outreach. Climbing most of the routes at Lover’s Leap, he has also added numerous routes of his own. From 5.5 to 5.12D, some of his first ascents have become modern day classics. A good chance you will probably climb one of his routes when you climb with Lover’s Leap Guides. Petch is certified by the AMGA as a Rock Instructor and holds his certification as a Wilderness First Responder and CPR.