Ah, the end is near and with that the long trip back up north approaches quickly. Though, not without a few stops along the way. Since last time I have managed to stay quite busy having fun climbing, skiing and whatnot hence the lack of update.
Where did I leave off...
Bouldering in Bishop was fun along with a little bit of sport climbing in Owens River Gorge. The weather was beautiful and it was hard to leave the climbing and friends there in Bishop but I had prior commitments for a week of climbing in Red Rocks with Kerry.
While Redoubt never blew, there was another sign of the second coming I witnessed in Vegas. It rained and snowed for several days. Red Rock Conservation Area was covered in snow and Vegas received several days worth of rain. I arrived several days before Kerry got in and even got to climb a few routes, the day she arrived the rain was coming down in sheets. This went on for a couple days and while is was expected to clear up for a few days more rain was on the way and sandstone can't be climbed when remotely wet, those bolts and anchors have a tendency to come out when wet.
We even resorted to climbing in the gym one day just to say we climbed. A look at the weather told us Red Rocks wasn't going to happen on this trip and the only other climbing nearby with decent weather was going to be Joshua Tree. So it would be, we headed south passing through the Mohave Desert, which oddly enough was covered in snow we made it to J Tree where we got in several days worth of climbing. The weather was sunny for the most part but the shade and any wind quickly cooled us off. Kerry had never been there so quickly learned to readjust herself to the rating system there. 5.6s had a tendency to show me whats up and 5.8s would give me a serious run for my money. Anything in the 5.10 arena was just a humbling battle from start to finish, but hey, it was all fun climbing, at least thats how I remember it, perhaps not what a witness might remember. I think the cursing actually helped me get up.
We made it back to Vegas for the return flight for Kerry and Jose, I spent the night at Red Rocks and the next morning I started north. Spent all day Saturday driving through Utah and spent the night in Rifle Colorado where I had a chilly night before thawing out the next morning during the short leg to Denver where I met up with Eric and Sharon, now living there. We spent the day bouldering at Flagstaff mountain in Boulder, which is quite the college/hippie town.
Eric worked the next day but had the following days off, we were nearly blown off the rock face trying to climb in Eldorado Canyon, we made it three pitches up before enduring an epic bail event. One rope, a terrible guide, and downclimbs, side climbs and unknown rappels made for an adventurous day. We made it back and enjoyed a not so quiet evening at Denver's Coyote Ugly. A very entertaining bar where we enjoyed a evening of drinking, pool, dances, body shots and overall fun atmosphere. Perhaps more fun for some than others. I had fun.
The early morning came mighty quickly the next morning where had planned on going skiing and with an amazing overcome of the desires to continue sleeping Eric and I got up and headed off to Keystone. They had just recieved snow the night before so got to enjoy excellent snow conditions on which we quickly sloughed off our hangovers somehow at 11,000ft. That night though we turned in early though.
I now continue on Northward to North Dakota to visit family for short bit before continuing on to Alaska.
What can I say, this trip has been fun. Way fun.
If I don't write again, see you all when I get back.
Josh
