It’s open season at Smith Rock. Temps are sick, people are psyched and I see some sick ascents on the horizon. Many people will agree that Smith Rock climbing can sometimes be a mental nightmare, but that nightmare is balanced by one of the friendliest climbing communities in the country.
Living out here in the country has it’s up’s and down’s, but I’d say mostly “up’s”. The Good Earth… Terrebonne is home to America’s first sport climbing crag, surrounded by beautiful countryside and endless mountain views. But with such a small sleeper community, it’s very hard to have a social life. Winter is brutally boring if the sun doesn’t shine. Redmond sucks. Fall and Spring are pretty happening in the climbing world, but then what. The Terrebonne Depot is super fun, not late enough. The Fan (aka The Big T’s)? NEVER! Ha! Well, I assume you’ve seen Field of Dreams? We created the Field of Dreams, except it’s 8 kegs, a bar, stage and dance floor by a field.
This is how. I’ll try not to spray to much. Last Winter I entered the Ninkasi Brewery Fresh Flicks outdoor sports video contest. I had two weeks to pumps something out. I didn’t have a camera anymore so I resorted to my hard drive to gather footage that I could piece together for a halfway descent climbing porn. Friends show up to vote and I ended up with 1st prize; Two season passes to Hoodoo and a one year, $1500 sponsorship from Ninkasi Brewery. That’s a lot of beer. We decided to throw some parties.
The Sunday of last Labor Day weekend offered the perfect time to start it off. I thought Sunday night would be appropriate for a few different reasons. First, less competition for a groovy crowd. Second, two days of climbing in a row at Smith is rough. People are more willing to get rowdy and throw a few back that second night. What better way to spend day three of your crusty vacation than recovering you tendons with a side of hangover. It was like Spring Break in Cabo. Almost. We started off with a reggae band from Bend, The 2nd Hand Soldiers. They killed it. 4 kegs down.
Then comes the Fall. The money time of year. Smith is packed, locals are stuck on their projects, let’s party. I ordered a nice little “potty box”, Kegs, and extreme freak dancers from Vegas. Justin and Andi set up their food cart, SoWild Fish & Chip. We set up the lights, then the bar, and waited. On Saturday, October 8th Tony Smiley had the crown hoppin’. For those of you that don’t know of this man, Tony Smiley is a one man band who packs the dance floor with his mix of rock, human beat boxing, 80's new wave rhythms, and yes, dash of Mongolian throat singing, combine into one huge mountain of a performance. His songs are original, groove laden works of art that rock. He is a loop ninja. Who doesn’t love ninjas? Five Ten and Metlious Mountain Products hooked up some shoes and gear to raffle off to help support the chaos.
2 kegs and one party left. The next weekend was unbelievable. It was like a Snoop Dogg video. The talented 4 on the Floor showed up and decided to throw a bluegrass tantrum. Clothes were coming off, dirty dancing, people were doing body shots! Something like that.
Huge thanks to Ninkasi Brewery in Eugene, Oregon, Metolius Mountain Products, Five Ten, Tony Smiley, 4 on the Floor, Dearric Winchester, Luke, Jesse and everyone who showed up.
My thoughts? We should do this every season. I think we need a beer sponsorship. Get updated on future parties through our Facebook page.
Photos by Dearric Winchester
Cheers.
