Within the Cascade Mountain range lies one of the longest multi-pitch rock climbs in the U.S, an 18 pitch route called Flyboys, which makes for about 1500 feet of elevation. For weeks, Ian Kolaja, Peter Voller and I had been planning to attempt the route once we were sure the weather would cooperate.
As the most experienced climber among us, Kolaja felt comfortable taking Voller and I up this route.
“I was looking to find something that was really really long, something 10+ pitches,” Ian said. “And it was all bolted. There were definitely some sections that were exposed but safe.”
We drove to Mazama, the closest town, on April 28 and slept in our truck. We woke up early the next morning to start climbing.
The first pitches were great. As we rose above the trees, and the moves kept getting more exposed, the beauty of the area really started to come over us.
However, with our turn around time looming, we decided to repel back down before dark.
Voller remarks about giving it another attempt,
“I had a ton of fun. We’ll be back soon to put the whole thing together.”
John Keegan can be reached at [email protected]