Photos by Andy Mann / andymann.com - Back in May, I took a pilgrimage to Bend, Oregon, home to hard-as-nails, crimpy, 5.14-filled American sport climbing. Sitting amid a groovy town, winding rivers, spotted cattle, and big sky, Smith Rock State Park is home to hundreds of world-class, old-school sport routes. However, the secret to Smith Rock's real charm is not the climbing itself, but in the landscape and the people. Also visiting the area at the time were fellow Coloradans Jonathan Siegrist and Paige Claassen, who both made Smith a priority area on their spring roadtrip. I'll let the photos tell the story.
Smith Rock on the flight over
Local Ian Yurdin works his way up To Bolt or Not To Be, America's first 5.14
Jonathan makes a rare ascent of To Bolt or Not To Be (5.14)
Jonathan on To Bolt or Not To Be (5.14)
Jonathan on To Bolt or Not To Be
Jonathan on To Bolt or Not To Be
Jonathan on To Bolt or Not To Be (5.14)
More local flavor
Stamping cams at the Metolius factory
Metolius's Brooke Sandahl explains to Jonathan the workings of a new design
A local tough guy
Smith Rock from Steve House's ranch
Paige sending King of Rap (5.12d)
Jonathan on Brooke Sandahl's classic Da Kine Corner (5.12c)
Jonathan on Da Kine Corner (5.12c)
Jonathan on Da Kine Corner (5.12c)
Jonathan taming another Smith monster pitch
Jonathan makes an impressive second-try ascent of Scarface (5.14a)
Jonathan on Scarface (5.14a)
Jonathan and Paige use old-school aiding techniques to recover the quickdraw
Paige makes the rose move on Rude Boys (5.13b)
Jonathan on Big Red (5.14)
Smith's finest
A welcoming yet watchful local
Jonathan on Dreaming (5.12)
Jonathan on Dreaming (5.12)
Jonathan on a nice, but very runout, 5.12c arete
Jonathan on a very nice, but very runout, 5.12c arete
