This June 2022 we found ourselves climbing and camping in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We ended up parked next to a couple of climbers visiting from the east coast. This is a story of an afternoon they decided to come out climbing with us.
Tim and Tanya, fellow climbers, followed us out to a granite formation named Lost Arrow Spire. Fueled by my promise of a finger crack climb worthy of classic status, the four of us set out with dark skies off to our West. The Bein Crack YDS 5.10 75’ is a route that from the base of the rock formation, looks difficult in its slightly overhanging attitude. The climbing starts out with a flaring blue-collar crack that splits a large detached pillar. From this comfy stance I found myself looking up at the namesake crack staring at my face and reaching 50 more feet towards the darkening sky. Kelly gave a great belay and I jammed my fingers in the ½” slots that opened up along the crack’s length. Each move flowed into the next, topping out snapped me out of my trance.
Over my shoulder a blaze of lightning caught me off guard. Quickly, another strike sets me into motion. Tanya is 70 feet across from me, also high up on a route. All four of us find wisdom in calling our outing short! I rappel down the lichen covered granite; cool July raindrops barrage the old Ponderosa forest. The rain will not last long, maybe 20 minutes like the last three afternoons. O, but the rainbows! Two! No, three, yes right there. We form up for a couple photos that Tanya snaps (my mental snapshot already taken). Another shot? Ok Tanya, one more!
