Red river gorge climbing

For our 6 year anniversary!!! we took a day and a half away from family to go to the Red River Gorge. I had never been, which surprised me because my family camped and hiked a lot when we were growing up. I was really excited to go and although it started off rocky - pouring down rain right before we went climbing - we found a wall that stays dry.

Unlike in Seattle, we had the whole Blues Brother's wall to ourselves. It was so nice to be able to hear each other and be as goofy as we wanted because no one was around. The Gorge has little labels stuck into the rock for all their routes so it was easy to navigate and pick routes. We climbed about 3 routes that evening and then headed back to Miguel's (the place you can only camp if you're climbers) and got the traditional pizza/Miguel's experience. We camped out back and then woke up to go climb a few more routes the next day.

We also took a mini hike to Creation Falls and just wandered around in between the big broad leaf trees. Seattle is mostly coniferous so it was really beautiful to climb up the rock between big green leaves playing shadows on one another.

So glad that we took a little time to ourselves while home to celebrate our anniversary. Also great to get onto some rock close to where we grew up.

Vantage Double Take

We spent the last two weekends in eastern Washington soaking up sunshine. One weekend we just went for the day and the next weekend we camped for a night and enjoyed some hot dogs and a fire.
Joshua accidentally pulled the rope on a 10c and ended up leading it to get the rope back up. He was amazing! I also led my first 10a while we were out the next weekend. Another big win- no one got sun burnt.

Smith Rock climbing

Finally in Bend we headed for Smith Rock to get in a few climbs before dinner. Joshua and I really wanted to do the 5 gallon buckets climb while no one was around, a really popular climb. The holds are extremely fun. You climb into these large holes in the side of the rock and can even get your whole arm through some of the holes. Both of us got a chance to lead climb this one.

The next day Joshua was on fire and did a bunch of lead climbs. I was feeling a little timid and decided to work on cleaning/repelling instead. We let our friends put up some good hard 5.10 routes that we got to top rope. I was really excited by how well we climbed these.

The weather was not as fabulous as last year. It was chilly and we had a crazy wind storm on Friday. The others took that day off but we headed into the crag to do a few simple climbs since we were leaving that afternoon. Finally  being self reliant enough to put up the climbs and use all our own gear was really satisfying.

Rex the team mascot

Weekend of All the Things

photo by James

 

Our friend Katy was our 3rd and final visitor. She got in on Thursday so of course we had happy hour margaritas and then made a pizza to take to our favorite brewery. She bummed around Golden Gardens the next day until we grabbed her to get tatchos (tater tot nachos) and met up with our friend James. The night ended with chicken wings and Katy and I karaokeing to K-Ci and JoJo's All My Life. Ergo- we were off to a good start.

Katy's first lead climb outdoors!

Joshua crushing his 5.10 lead climb!

Me failing to get to the third clip on my lead climb, ha

We headed out early the next morning to go climbing. The weather was amazing and sunny and Mt. Rainier was out and had a cute little cloud hat. We had a fabulous day climbing and I got to give Katy her a catch- apparently in Ohio you say catch not ride, for her first lead belay. The day was glorious and I loved getting to just hang out with Katy all day. Also loved getting to climb with her. We both independently of one another got into climbing at about the same time on opposite sides of the country so I loved getting to do it WITH her!

That night James also join us, Joshua, Katy, Nick & I for fires, Rainiers, sausages and FIREWORKS. We've had the fireworks since 4th of July so I was very excited to set them off. Katy and I had never held roman candles and shot them off into the air before either. We screamed a lot and ran around pretending they were wands and we were real wizards, of course. (Mom, Dad- we were safe no one pointed any fireworks at each other)

 

 

 

The next morning we popped some champagne and made mango mimosas garnished with fresh picked huckleberries. We also had bacon which the boys wrapped around hot dogs- it was actually quite good.

  

Then we got to the shotguns. We set up our cans and half of a watermelon rind and lined em upon on a hill. I'm not entirely sure Katy and I really hit anything but we looked good trying.

 Sadly then Joshua's truck wouldn't start, we got it going but then James's car wouldn't start so eventually we had to get a tow truck to come up the dirt mountain road and tow him down. This of course was a very long task so we got mountain roadside burgers and shakes, took car naps, lounged in the back of the truck and picked huckleberries while waiting. The tow truck guy said it was the farthest into the mountain roads he'd ever gone, ha.

 

We did however end the night on a high note with a homemade huckleberry pie from our cache that morning. Overall I really loved Katy's visit and the randomness that it included suited us and our friendship perfectly!

 

photo by Katy

Camp & Climb

 

We went climbing at our favorite spot this past weekend. The weather was sunny but not too hot, we had a good size group of 7, started the day with a McDonalds sausage biscuit- all the ingredients for a fabulous day. The climbing here is amazing and Joshua & I got in quite a few leads on routes. I finally feel like I'm confident enough leading 5.8 routes to start trying something a little more out of my comfort zone.

That night we all stuck around and camped. We took a beer break by the lake and made a fire with giant stumps and one guy even brought guns to shoot. Had a good ol redneck time. They all went climbing again the next day and we had to head back for a prior obligation. Everytime I go I think I fall a little more in love with climbing. The pace, people, views so darn good.

Climbing on our new rope

 

This past weekend we finally got a real chance to break in our new rope. It was fun to hike up to the crag with a  rope and actually be useful climbing friends. Until now we've borrowed most people's gear and waited for all the routes to be set up for us. With our own rope, and our friend's patience in teaching us to lead climb we feel like a lot less of a drag. Neither of us is very good at feeling un-useful.

no ones life was dependent upon me belaying for this photo :)
but look how pretty the rope is, it has some orange in it!

 We headed back to what they call the secret crag. It was a lovely day with the minor problem of some mosquito bites. Our weeks have been pretty long so we took it easy, climbed about 6 routes, and ate sunflower seeds. Mostly it was nice to sit on the side of the mountain with a fun group of people.