Wos Glacier Rock Climbing

In the pit at the Alaska Rock Gym Kerry Tinzman told us about cragging at the Wosnesenski Glacier near Homer. The rock climbing closer to Anchorage is terrible. The Seward Highways is rated one of the top five worst climbing venues in the US. On the plus side, all rock climbing means a TRIP! We got Wos beta from shitflyclimbing.com and made air and water taxi reservations. 

Our nephew Miles Goritsky joined us. He just graduated from high school in Camas, Washington and needed to get his yayas out with somewhat responsible adults. 

When we arrived at Northwind Aviation in Homer we learned why Kerry knows the Wos. Kerry is dating Jose de Creeft, the Northwind pilot. Kerry flew in with us, giving us the grand tour along the way, pointing out bears and climbs.

We landed a quarter mile from camp.

An alder forest protected us from wind draining off the Iceworm Icefield. This area seems to be a rain shadow from the uglier Prince William Sound weather. Kerry said the winter water ice climbs freeze consistently here. 

Cathy on Womb with a View (5.10a).   

Miles on Sloppy Peach (5.9+++). 

Miles nearing the forceferous overhang. 

After our second day of cragging we walked up to the glacier. We didn't start packrafting down there. Eeep!

Miles is Cathy's sister Karen's son. He has strong Flanagan genes. On the last day of his AK visit we ran and hiked O'Malley Peak above Anchorage. We did a loopy, traversey sort of thing in a few hours. Although it was his first mountain he became more energized the longer we were out and finished sprinting to the parking lot.

Is Miles saying "Ouch!" or "Ahhhh!"?

After climbing we packrafted the Wos River to Kachemak Bay. The National Geographic Trails Illustrated map shows this river as a Fjord and calls it Quiet River or something Outside like that. 

Miles, here's your boat, a paddle and your life preserver. And do you see those big rocks? Steer around them.

If we had more time we'd have butt-boated the side creeks. Miles thought they'd be like a real life Splash Mountain in Disney World. 

On Kachemak Bay, after the five-hour float. 

We camped near Haystack Rock, where the water taxi would pick us up. 

Waiting for Mako's Water Taxi. Bald eagles everywhere, like pigeons in Trafalgar Square.

Back in Homer. Miles is off to Western Washington University this fall to study his long-time interests of writing and history.