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A crappy trip report from Texas 3-May-2008 At 5:42:40 AM Organ Pipe

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G'day there folks!

Time for a bit of a crappy trip report:
I'm over in Texas for an extended period with a new employer, and have been befriended by the staff at a local climbing gym. We did our first outdoor trip together 2 weeks ago, to introduce me to what Texas has to offer in the way of climbing.

We did a road trip from Dallas where I'm living, down to Austin, and spent the weekend at Reimers Ranch, a few miles west of Austin. Reimers was a privately owned ranch, that was sold to the parks department years ago and is now run and managed by local rangers. It's desert style country, grasslands and shrubs, with cactus' everywhere, split by a beautiful river that has cut it's way though the desert revealing not very high, but interesting, limestone walls.
Being brought up as a pure traddie at Araps and the Gramps, visiting a crag where every single line is bolted, was a new experience for me, as was limestone. I've never climbed the stuff before, and was surprised at how solid it is, despite the crumbly look.

We got two days of solid climbing in, negotiated poison ivy, moccasin snakes, and had an awesome time.

I'll offer some observations:
The word 'take' is used a lot. Conversely, 'on-sight' does not seem to be part of the common lexicon. Again this was a new 'style???' to me.
Dogging up a 25 foot climb with 4 'take' rests and no falls then high fiving everyone is not what I lay in bed dreaming about at night, but then again this aint my backyard.

So I've begun suggesting that an on-sight is a worthwhile pursuit, and in the gym, I've begun to preach a 'send or fall' doctrine. It seems to be being embraced : )

These Texans are a great bunch!

Enjoy some snaps from the trip. Cheers, Ben.

My first ever glimpse of Limestone:

Bouldering in these amazing caves:

Me on Crankenstein (5.10b I think):

The best end to a hot day of climbing: