MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Summer 2020

28 visited Metcalfe in a while; some wayfinding and new route attempts slowed them down a little. Luckily, the guiding companies and their clients started hiking in just as the two were packing up. Around 9:30 a.m. they made a quick pit stop at a spring to wash off the morning sweat and top up water bottles before they jogged back to their bikes. The Swamp was next—a long crag with the longest approach of the day. The two arrived at the Kolapore Uplands parking lot just after 10 a.m. Though it was a Saturday at the height of climbing season, other climbers were supportive of the Eager Beaver Challenge and allowed the duo to climb first. With just four routes left at The Swamp, the weather suddenly turned to rain. The rain lasted just long enough for the guys to refuel while huddling under a tree. Once the rain stopped, they got back to work. By 1:30 p.m., they were jogging out. So far, the guys were ahead of schedule but knew the majority of the cycling was still to come. A 26-km ride took them to Devil’s Glen where they quickly climbed the remaining 11 routes. By 6:00 p.m. they refilled their bottles in the nearby spring and started the final 35-km ride back to Old Baldy. At 7:00 p.m., they arrived at the Old Baldy parking lot where they began their challenge more than 15 hours earlier. All in all the two biked a total of 78 kilometres, climbed 50 pitches each and ran everything in between. While packing up Dustin said, “There’s definitely an opportunity to improve the time. It’d be pretty awesome to see someone else come out and give it a go.” Challenge accepted? Elan Marko on Wobbler (5.9) at The Swamp, Kolapore Dustin and Elan chose their routes from Jesse Wong’s Ontario Rock Climbing: The Best Of Southern Ontario . Will Tam (@willtam85) is a Toronto- based climber and photographer. Dustin Johnston-Jewell on Betty (5.8), Devil's Glen Elan Marko on Return of the Jingoid (5.6), Old Baldy (Kimberley Rock).