Castle Peak...Conundrum Peak...Lincoln...Democrat...Cameron...Bross
Monday, September 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Haakon and Emily Currie Wedding
"It could be the summer of 2002." Trevor said. We were in Pongas billiard hall playing Big Buck Hunter, shooting whiskey, and listening to classic rock. Everyone was there and it was erie how nothing had changed but the size of some of our guts and the lose of some of our hair.
Haakon Currie a long time friend, since 8th grade, was married in Durango at the Durango Mountain Resort. The wedding audience consisted of everyone who used to live in the rafting commune. All those transient raft guides and mountain folk who would call Durango their summer home. Only this time everyone was showered and shaved, and eveyone was eyeing the open bar. Haakon should have known better! The wedding was short and sweet, morphing clouds in the mountain background, as they said "I do" and started their new life.
Haakon Currie a long time friend, since 8th grade, was married in Durango at the Durango Mountain Resort. The wedding audience consisted of everyone who used to live in the rafting commune. All those transient raft guides and mountain folk who would call Durango their summer home. Only this time everyone was showered and shaved, and eveyone was eyeing the open bar. Haakon should have known better! The wedding was short and sweet, morphing clouds in the mountain background, as they said "I do" and started their new life.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Deep Water Soloing
What is deep water soloing? Lets break it apart...first you need some deep water. This can be a pool, river, ocean, etc. This pool of water acts as your safety net or your "rope" should you fall. Soloing is the act of climbing with out the use of ropes, protection, belayer, etc.
This outing was my first experience with deep water soloing. Amos introduced me to it and he is a big fan. I must say I was hesitant about it...maybe it was due to the 30ft fall or the 34 degree water that was catching us? Anyway the butterflies were scrambling about in my stomach.
The climbs were in a small little creek up on Independence Pass. We were climbing at the base of an underground waterfall (picture 1). The rock looked like plastic melted by a blow torch. The erosion over eons has eroded the rock to smooth polished glass. The climbing began just above this polished layer of rock ice.
Before we started soloing we first set up a top-rope to examine the rock and the routes. We each climbed the routes a few times before we took the harness off to solo. Once we felt comfortable on the routes we were lowered down on a simple webbing sling. At the bottom of the route we unclipped the sling and the rope was pulled up to the top of the cliff. That point is the moment of fight or flight. Fight back the emotions, fear, and doubt so that you can succeed. Or do the easy exit by letting go and swimming in the ice bath mountain water. Both Amos and I chose to succeed and chose not to fall. Each of us, one by one, sailed the routes, embracing summer, life, and the opportunity for adventure.
This outing was my first experience with deep water soloing. Amos introduced me to it and he is a big fan. I must say I was hesitant about it...maybe it was due to the 30ft fall or the 34 degree water that was catching us? Anyway the butterflies were scrambling about in my stomach.
The climbs were in a small little creek up on Independence Pass. We were climbing at the base of an underground waterfall (picture 1). The rock looked like plastic melted by a blow torch. The erosion over eons has eroded the rock to smooth polished glass. The climbing began just above this polished layer of rock ice.
Before we started soloing we first set up a top-rope to examine the rock and the routes. We each climbed the routes a few times before we took the harness off to solo. Once we felt comfortable on the routes we were lowered down on a simple webbing sling. At the bottom of the route we unclipped the sling and the rope was pulled up to the top of the cliff. That point is the moment of fight or flight. Fight back the emotions, fear, and doubt so that you can succeed. Or do the easy exit by letting go and swimming in the ice bath mountain water. Both Amos and I chose to succeed and chose not to fall. Each of us, one by one, sailed the routes, embracing summer, life, and the opportunity for adventure.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Fourth of July
Merica Day 2008 was spent doing circles in Reudi Reservoir behind a 1971 ski competition boat. What is it about boats that make you feel like a millionaire? The boat belongs to my buddy Dan Livingston and we waked with his wife Erin, their pup Lucy, Morgan, and the chica. By the way Cara is amazing at the wakeboard! A hidden talent I never knew existed and I was just blown away. She was jumping the wake, carving the wave, and mankin the gnar! Sick bra...
'
'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
