Climbing, Crossroads, and Family – Joshua Tree Tweetup 2009
I've put off writing my Joshua Tree Tweetup trip report for a while now because I've been struggling to figure out how to convey just how amazing the trip was for me. This last weekend, however, I put my down, puffy jacket into the wash, and the smokey campfire smell that has permeated the fabric since the trip has disappeared. I was saddened by this loss since the cozy smell could trigger so many happy memories, but I took it as a sign that I should sit down and put some words on the page...
Joshua tree sunset in Ryan Campground (Photo by D. Lui)
Crack Climbing: Addiction within the obsession
How Yosemite and The Grotto taught me to love crack
A boulderer friend of mine on Twitter recently joked that "Friends don't let friends climb crack." At the time I just laughed, but I'm beginning to see the need for such a warning. Once you start crack climbing, there's just no going back. The already all-consuming obsession with climbing turns into a burning new addiction that will leave you aching to stuff your hands into hand-chewing crevices and twist your feet into toe-squashing seams. Oh yes, I think I'm starting to understand...
Yosemite, dinosaurs, new friends and experiences
I've fallen a little behind on my blog updates so instead of posting each entry separately, I put together this end of summer recap of my adventures. I had a great summer making new friends, climbing new routes and, yes, there were dinosaurs...
Dinosaurs on Highway 120
Climbing with a “stranger” on my 1st trip to Lovers Leap
Thursday (July 30) started out as an imploding ball of foiled intentions and trampled climbing dreams… My idea to drive up to Donner Summit on Saturday, camp, and climb on Sunday with Jeff and Kelli was being derailed by work conflicts, and it was looking like I would be stuck at sea level with no prospect of climbing outdoors. I lamented to the Twitter climbing community and stomped around the house, pouting and futilely shaking my fist at the sky. Yes, I was disappointed. I was upset. I was downright miserable. Then, like unexpected heroes, both Ben (@benpope) and George (@sudarkoff) swooped in and offered to climb with me. Well, ok, maybe not quite so dramatic and definitely lacking capes, but they sure saved my day. Twenty four hours and a billion emails later, plans and work schedules were arranged, rearranged, and rearranged again until the final plan consisted of me, Ben, Jeff, and Kelli heading up to Lover's Leap on Saturday afternoon.
Lover's Leap East, Main, & West Walls as seen from Hogsback (Photo by B. Pope)
Summer Daytrips to Sierra Granite
During the winter season, if my husband and I go up to the slopes to ski/board (he skis, I board), it's usually just for a day trip. Although a lot of people seem to think a day trip from the south Bay Area to the Sierras is too hard, we’re pretty used to the drive, and spring road conditions make it downright easy. It recently dawned on me that I could do the same sort of trips in summer/fall for climbing – yes, I know…duh, right? In typical me fashion, I launched, or maybe more exploded, into my new plan at the first chance that presented itself, and I ended up making day trips to Tuolumne and Donner Pass within the same week.
View driving up Tioga Rd. to Tuolumne Meadows
Oregon Fourth of July Weekend, 2009
Smith Rock State Park. July 3, 2009.
I had been warned that Smith Rock in midsummer was blazing hot so, on the drive up to Oregon, I kept thinking I’d have to bust out some lawyerly and persuasive argument to convince Jeff and Kelli to wake up disgustingly early. To my surprise and delight, one of the first things Jeff said to me upon reaching the cabin was that he was hoping to get to the park by 6am. A cheer and a shout of assent from me, and we were set for a 5am departure time.
Yosemite Valley Trip Report, May 2009: Day Two
Psyching myself out and the nature of my fear
I popped awake on Saturday morning about an hour before the alarm was due to go off at 6. Despite the full day of climbing the day before, I was supercharged and ready to go. Jer and my other regular climbing partner, Jeff, and his wife Kelli had met up with us at the campground the night before so we were a full complement of four for the rest of the weekend. We hit the ground running and were at Church Bowl by 8:30.
Church Bowl Tree
Jeff decided that he wanted to try Church Bowl Tree, a 10b, single pitch climb that we thought was only 10a. I had my reservations given the difficulty of the runout part of my second pitch on Friday (nevermind that I was off route and not really on the 5.6 at that part), but I had faith that Jeff would nail it since he’s pretty much never failed to impress me.
Racking the gear for Church Bowl Tree (Photo by J. Shapiro)
Yosemite Valley Trip Report, May 2009: Day One
Wherein I learn to love Yosemite even more, and I lead my first multi-pitch trad climb.
The idea of waking up at 3:15am on a Friday for a four hour drive after only two and a half hours of sleep would probably seem crazy to most people, and I confess, a few of my brain cells might have been screaming at me to be reasonable. The rest of my whole being, however, was humming with excitement! I mean, I was headed to Yosemite to spend the weekend climbing with friends - who needed sleep!?! Sleep is for the dead, they say, no?
Despite a panicky moment of lost keys, I managed to get out the door to pick up Jeremy, and we headed for the hills. After securing a campsite at Sweetwater Campground, we hit the Valley floor around 10am. On the drive in I had the pleasure of seeing Jeremy’s amazement at the gigantic, gorgeous, and glorious granite cliffs (whooh! alliteration!). Yosemite is one of my favorite places on the planet, and I love seeing people’s awestruck faces when they see it for the first time.
First views of El Capitan (Photo by J. Shapiro)
Recent Comments
- Climbing, Crossroads, and Family – Joshua Tree Tweetup 2009 (2)
- tiffany: * sigh *. Love. It.
(great “About” photo, by the way!)
- tiffany: * sigh *. Love. It.
- Crack Climbing: Addiction within the obsession (3)
- Luke: Totally Awesome. You should definitely try to make it to Indian Creek this spring. It will teach you the...
- Laurel: Haha! I like your tetris comment, I feel the same thing. That would explain why I bring the rattly old hexes,...
- Rick: Nina at some time in the future Iwant you to plan a trip to Cal Dome. Let me show you around. We’ll have...
Friends and Other Links
Climbing Blogs
- Adventurgrrl
- bpope's blog
- Climbing Narcissist
- Cremnomaniac
- Cupcake Mafia
- Dream In Vertical
- Five Ten: Blog
- KatieBeth's Beautiful Moments
- martinpribble
- Patagonia's Tin Shed
- RockClimberGirl
- Steph Davis (High Infatuation)
- The Boulder Diaries
- The Cleanest Line
- The Dirtbag Diaries
- The Rockgrrl
Gear Love
- Backcountry.com My favorite online outdoor clothing/gear seller.
- Black Diamond Fan of the C4s and BD headlamps.
- La Sportiva No matter what I try on, I keep coming back to La Sportiva climbing shoes (I have 5 different pairs!)
- Marmot Marmot made my supercomfy Pinnacle sleeping bag that I LOVE
- Metolius Love the TCUs, PowerCams and omg the Supercam!
- Patagonia Environmentally and socially conscious company that makes awesome, hardwearing clothing.
- REI Where I buy most of my clothes and gear locally.
- Sterling Rope I love my Marathon Pro rope.