Every climber has a Project; a route or boulder problem that exposes your weaknesses and shuts you down. For Diane Ortega, the manager of The Studio in San Jose, that project is the Buttermilk Stem in Bishop, California. The problem is graced with slopey holds, requires tons of flexibility, and has sharp rock that bites back. It’s a classic, and to some the Buttermilk Stem is a fun outing. But to most, it is a series of frustrating moves.
When Orgeta is asked about her the project, she affectionately refers to the Buttermilk Stem as her nemesis. The problem has thwarted her since she first tried the problem in October of 2009 while on a trip with Ryan Moon and Jake Nelson.
Located in the middle of the Buttermilks, the stem features hard palming up a wide groove to a pinch and a few large huecos. The area is gorgeous but the rock can shred your palms. “I think the Buttermilks are the most beautiful area of Bishop, but I hate climbing there. It hurts my feelings. But I keep coming back for more!”
Other climbers have had a similar experience. It took Touchstone Blogger and big wall free climber James Lucas years to eventually send the vexing problem. “I think they forgot to add a 1 to before the 0,” Lucas said of the modest V0/V10 grade. “After a few years of work and serious Kodak courage, I finally sent.”
“I have tried this problem every time I have been to Bishop for 4 years,” said Ortega, who plans on heading back to Bishop for Thanksgiving and New Years. “Its become a big joke to most of my friends. I even had a session where everyone who go to the top (even random strangers who happened to be there) yelled out my name at the top.”
Ortega’s climbing at The Studio will doubtlessly pay off. Best of luck to her as she tackles the nearly impossible problem!
