It’s been a while since I’ve been able to post. We’re kept rather busy here for the most part: school days are filled with class from morning to late afternoon, immediately after which is recovery time (after almost 6 hours of class) and then dinner, and then do reading for the next day. Monday through Friday. But then comes the weekend. And what good would it be to sit around and do nothing while there’s so much to explore in this area that we can’t possibly do all of in three weekends? Consequently, weekends end up being (if possible) even busier.

For our first weekend (May 10-11), I joined the group of people who rock climbed on Saturday. This was a most of the day event, leaving at 10am and returning around 3pm. I actually climbed more than I thought  I was going to. The first climb we started with, was a 5.5 and I practically just walked up that thing. It made me feel good, but in terms of a challenge, it was disappointing. As it turns out however, we were not the only ones who were in the area. There was an AMGA (I believe) instructor certification course going on. They were kind enough to let us use a couple of their unused ropes. Some people went up the 5.6 and when they needed to use that, we went over to the 5.7 course, which is what I set out to do.

Naturally, me, by nature of being me, did not simply go up the logical and straightforward path. I ended up veering off to the right, and inadvertently ended up climbing a 5.10 climb. I had no idea at the time. And it was a tall climb too, going up over 100, by Rebecca Lyons’ estimation. But that was the challenge that I was looking for. Interestingly enough though, it never seemed to me (in the moment) anything that was too tough. Sure, there were times I considered yelling “Take” to come back down, but every time I thought that, I looked at the rock, and could see the necessary placements for my feet (or perhaps where my hands needed to reach to) and knew that I just needed to make it happen. That was the only choice.

Both climbs I didn’t want to be distracted my North Face jacket getting in the way, so I took it off. I was already in shorts anyway, and it was quite gusty (and cold) that day. Hence, I got dubbed with “ice water in my veins.” I was asked if I was from Maine, and I said, nope, just Chicago. J

After the exciting day of climbing however, and watching others push their boundaries with fear (of heights) a little further, we drove back to SNARL and some of us got ready to visit a local hot spring. We soaked for an hour, had a conversation with two interesting men, and felt greatly replenished on the drive back.

On Sunday, most groups went up to their lakes, so Will, Reid and I decided to go on a short hike down Hot Creek. It’s about an hour long hike, and greatly resembles Yellowstone with scalding hot pools here and there.  It was quite beautiful and a bit warm (quite different from when we first arrived at SNARL). Afterwards we went into town for a hearty lunch (difficult to find, almost everywhere likes to close early and on weekends) and then made our way back to our weekly meeting (and the conclusion of our weekend).

Until Next Time,

Joe