And a short day of climbing

With the rain supposed to come in this afternoon, I couldn't be out climbing until 6 or so, and I'm still not quite ready for an alpine start (nor was my climbing companion). Still we got on the road around 10am, and did Rocketman on Mont King -- which is (I mean, was - fuck the NCC) one of the few places for multi-pitch climbing around Ottawa. It is a classic, the first pitch (5.4) is a bit tricky to protect and not too long (15-20m); the 2nd pitch (5.3) is easier both to climb and protect and goes a bit over 30m because of wander (and a bit under 30m on rappel); the 3rd pitch is really easy (5.0) and, also, a bit over 30m -- in fact on rappel, you come a foot or so short of your anchor. But, the terrain there is easy.

Celine and I got up and down it in reasonable time, with rain starting to spit as we drove away and a bit more than just spit as we unloaded the car at my place. Just about perfect timing. Also, the view from the top of Mont King is awesome -- and somehow it feels even better if you have climbed up to it, rather than just hiked around the King Mountain trail.