First Six Weeks of Travel

I have been on vacation for six weeks, or perhaps I should say pseudo vacation considering I do work 2 days per week. To be honest, working my job AROUND my climbing schedule is quite heavenly. =)

For the past six weeks I decided to stay in Utah, mostly in SLC, as there were still routes and crags I wanted to explore, I had a wide network of climbing partners, but mostly because I don’t know where my next job will take me.

Yet by the time Sept 1 rolled around, I started to question my Utah decision, fretting that I should have used this time to go somewhere far away. However, if the goals of this pseudo vacation are relaxation, having fun and climbing, perhaps I should stop worrying about my decision as these past weeks allowed me to do the following:

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I climbed in the local canyons of Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, American Fork and Ferguson. (Pictured is me at a dawn bouldering session with Severhead, Jun and Trent.)

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I made a couple weekend trips to Maple Canyon.  (Pictured is a SLC climber getting ready to attempt Ammo Dump.)

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I visited Wild Iris, this being only my second trip. (Pictured is a SLC climber.)

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I bouldered some excellent problems in Joes and Triassic. (Pictured is Shaft.)

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I was able to climb 31 out of 46 days. (Pictured is me on a very cool, thin problem, with the classic sandy top-out in Triassic.)

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I enjoyed the sunrise in Little Cottonwood. (On this day I was climbing Pentapitch with new friend, Tyler.)

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I sent another 12a route and my first v7. Yippee!! (Me looking super serious at Joes Valley.)

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I spent my birthday weekend with my great friend, while we both completed our birthday challenges. (Pictured are Shaft and I after completion of his 41 boulder problem birthday challenge.)

I checked out the Outdoor Recreation Show and watched the Mammut Bouldering competition.  Fun, fun, fun!

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I enjoyed many great nights out on the town. (Pictured are Shaft and I at Brian and Elise’s wedding.  Whew… I was in dire need of a haircut!)

I partied it up at my old house where I watched Shaft get his a$$ kicked by the JamesMonster in guitar hero.

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And I saw The Route Slayer extremely happy after climbing. (Check out the pink car in the background!) =)

Yep, I need to stop fretting.  These past six weeks have been great!

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  • melissa
    Speaking of cute blog names, I need a nickname from you...you give the best ones!
  • I love this quick report. The pics are awesome, and I'm so happy to see another person walk so happily away from the bindings of weekend warriorhood. I think everybody should take a summer, sometime after they've worked for a few years and sometime before they have a family, take a summer or a year and spend it doing whatever you want. You'll be happier, healthier and a more focused person for it! And an incredibly awesome climber, evidently! You rock!

    Also, what's up with the huge number of Kates and Katies in this world? Another Katie C right here in this thread? And she links to more Kates? Ahhh, I should come up with a cute blog name like 'Wasatch Girl'!
  • Tyler King
    Looks like a good time to me! Especially the sunrise in LCC :) Here are some lyrics for you to ponder, sorry about the length. A good song that always gets me thinking about how great life can be and how fast it moves! I used to wish for the next phase in life "driven on without a moment to spend". Now I'm looking back wishing I could have just enjoyed the moment...


    TIME STAND STILL
    by: RUSH (yes, a good 80's rock band!)

    I turn my back to the wind
    To catch my breath,
    Before I start off again
    Driven on,
    Without a moment to spend
    To pass an evening
    With a drink and a friend

    I let my skin get too thin
    Id like to pause,
    No matter what I pretend
    Like some pilgrim --
    Who learns to transcend --
    Learns to live
    As if every step was the end

    Time stand still --
    Im not looking back
    But I want to look around me now
    See more of the people
    And the places that surround me now

    Freeze this moment
    A little bit longer
    Make each sensation
    A little bit stronger
    Experience slips away...

    I turn my face to the sun
    Close my eyes,
    Let my defences down --
    All those wounds
    That I cant get unwound

    I let my past go too fast
    No time to pause --
    If I could slow it all down
    Like some captain,
    Whose ship runs aground --
    I can wait until the tide
    Comes around

    Make each impression
    A little bit stronger
    Freeze this motion
    A little bit longer
    The innocence slips away...

    Summers going fast --
    Nights growing colder
    Children growing up --
    Old friends growing older
    Experience slips away...
  • Melissa
    So inspiring, and awesome pics! You really are living the dream. Enjoy and keep the pics and posts coming! Way to totally crush everything in your wake too!
  • Yay! Just reading this post makes me smile. Way to make the system work for you! and congrats on sending!
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