Open Projects

So I wanted to do a full on projects post here. Kind of the be all end all of open projects at the lake. There are a bunch of them that need to get done and I'm hoping we'll see many finished up this year!

1 - Seam Project


I've spent 3 days on this one and have come away empty handed. I'm not really sure how that happened. I will say that it was comforting to see RV and Chris both go through the same progression as I. It feels so doable when you first try it but as time goes on it gets trickier and trickier.

When it comes down to it it's a single move. It should be over once you get your feet back on and cross over.

It's thrutchy, a bit awkward and the landing is interesting enough to keep me coming back. I'm very much looking forward to doing this boulder problem. Not sure what it'll take.

2 - Corner Project

Remo and I have spent limited time on this one and the crux seems to be getting off the ground. Once you're a couple moves in Remo tells me you can throw a toe hook in and move around pretty well. Opening this could mean that a true low start could be done for Moj which would be cool as well.

For those of you who haven't played on it it starts on a poor left hand edge and a mediocre undercling. Getting up off the ground doesn't look terrible until you look at the feet. Just horrible. If we can figure it out this could be one of the harder ones at the lake. Time will tell.

3 - Half Dome Project


Sadly this one is turning out to be a bit of a heartbreaker. The jug will surely break at some point and the start is a touch awkward till you get the momentum right. Both those points in mind it's a relatively safe and incredibly hard project with an easy approach. Can't ask for too much more in Wisconsin.

This problem seems like a good step up from others I've tried around here but in true Lake fashion it's going to be a whopping 3 moves long. After a pretty heinous dry fire last fall I'm curious what it's going to take.

4 - Falling Pieces Project


Peter and I tried this one years ago but ultimately deemed it too much of a heartbreaker. Once more a boulder sadly covers up two amazing underclings making a would be perfect project into a jump start. So sad.

Melin seemed to be the only one really psyched on this one and it seemed he came fairly close to it a couple times but then had to leave it for next year. I've never had huge motivation for it but I'd be happy to see someone do it.

5 - Jack Backwards


So I'll be honest here. I had no clue that the official Jack Backwards project went up the gully to the right of the amazing wall. Never would have imagined it but oh well. Last fall Vince did the dihedral and named it Jack Bawkwards.

In my eyes the true gem is still there.

The wall to the left of Bawkwards is AMAZING. 100% completely incredible. Not sure if it'll be hard, easy, moderate, whatever. It'll be cool though. Not sure how this ones been overlooked. Actually, thinking about it now I should check my guide when I get home. Who knows. It could be a TR for all I know.

Either way, project or not, it's worth doing.

6 - Big Money Project


Gotta thank Remo on this one. RV and I looked at it very very briefly this past spring and dismissed it as not worthy of time. Remo says it could be cool. He says it could be hard. Who knows. Gotta try it though.

The nice thing about this is that it'd be easy to do with one or two people and obviously the landing isn't an issue. While lowball, it could be cool. We'll see.

7 - Triple Tower Project


If we can move one boulder this could be a very good addition. It looks like some cool compression moves into an existing V4. Who's up for some trundling??

8 - Tunder Tikes Project

I'm just going out and naming the project left of Tunder Tighs. This should be a prime one as long as we can fill in the pit. That's the big question. We'll need a decent sized crew for it. Remo and I are in, who else?

9 - Tilted Boulder Project


Within a span of a week Remo and I looked at this problem without knowing the other had. The main project would go up the right arete on kind of a striking line. There is also maybe potential for something REALLY hard up the left face.

If I remember right there weren't that many holds.

10 - Science Friction Project


Again another problem that I haven't been super excited about but it's been fun to follow its progress as more an more people try the thing. Sweaty, Remo and Vince have all put time in on it and come away empty handed.

Aside from one seemingly really sharp crimp it seems like a prime line with a good approach.

11 - Project Wall


So most of these projects I can imagine doing. They don't seem too outlandish and actually rather possible. The project wall doesn't even seem imaginable. With that said though, every time I go out to the reserve I throw a pad below it and futz around for a bit. Always with the same result.

It very well might go. Who knows. If it does, I think it'll be well into the double digits.

Off the top of my head I can't think of any other of the "big" projects. There are literally hundreds of other problems out there for the taking right now! Not just on the West Bluff either but the entire East Bluff and off the Fire Road on top of the West Bluff. That's not even taking into consideration the huge expanse that is Steinke Basin.

There is so much potential still up at the lake that it's absolutely mind boggling. The days of hiking for more than an hour to get to a mediocre project and thinking it's the future of the lake are done. They're over. There are so many new problems to be done it's staggering.

Let me know if I missed any though. I'll happily add to this list.