When the first cold front of the season rolls in, the city of Dallas hunkers down. Thermostats are tampered with, much to the chagrin of dad, and blankets are pulled from the cupboard. With northern winds come shorter days, warmer jackets, and more time inside. Saturday at Lake Mineral Wells State Park signaled this changing of the seasons. But what meteorologists might call freezing, climbers call “send temps.” With stoke levels high, seven students bundled up and braved the cold with hopes of climbing hard and reconnecting with nature. Despite no confirmation from the park that the climbing area was open, this group of adventurers set off west with their eyes set on Penitentiary Hollow and that classic North Texas limestone.

Our optimism proved worthwhile as we discovered upon arrival the climbing area was open, with aesthetic lines abounding. Student climbers first warmed up in “The Refrigerator,” familiarizing themselves with face climbing and chimneying, crimping, laybacking, and even a bit of off-width. Once comfortable on the gritty limestone, climbers headed to the Scenic Overlook to play around on an arête and test their fingers in true huecos, those pocketed holds that draw climbers from around the world to the Lone Star State. An abbreviated lunch was followed by a rousing send train of 5.8 Boulder Problem, a classic Mineral Wells route with an overhanging boulder-y start, followed by flowy slab climbing to the anchors.

With pumped forearms and torn finger pads, firmly indoctrinated in dirtbag culture, we piled into the illustrious Rafiki (the van) and made our way back to our Dallas home. Conversations were littered with new skills learned, the recounting of exciting moves, and the tossing about of nicknames generated for each other while on the trip. For some, the trip solidified a passion for climbing, exploration, and spending time outdoors. For others, it sparked a new curiosity for this vertical world. For all, myself included, this trip showed the beauty of a group gathering around a shared interest, the bonds built through outdoor activity, and the importance of actively interacting with our natural world. As they say, a life outdoors is a life well lived. I want to extend an El Capitan-sized thank you to my fellow trip leader, Nathan Welle, and all participants for making this an exceptional trip.

Jack Dorsher – Trip Leader, SMU Outdoor Adventures