We took our 3rd annual trip to Bishop this year and had a great time. Of course like all trips before, it had it’s share of hiccups, but they didn’t stop us from having a wonderful time overall.
Our first bump was on our first day driving out to CA. We stopped at one of our FAVORITE places in the state – the FiveTen Outlet in Redlands. They were having a super duper sale on discontinued shoes and we made out like bandits!! Well while we were in the store trying on shoes, Will decided that he was going to barf all over himself. Don’t ask me why – he had a cold so we surmised that he was throwing up phlem – but he proceeded to puke up pizza all over himself while I was holding him, covering his mouth and making a mad dash for the front door while screaming “Tommy help me!!!” It was awful. We ended up having to throw his shirt away but believe it or not, not a drop was spilled on the floor in the store and only a little got on my shirt. The rest was on his face, up his nose, in his ears and in his hair! Poor baby! He was fine right after that though, so that was good.
Our second hurdle was that our original campground of two years previous turned off the water hook-up to our rig and then also turned off the hot water in their showers. We didn’t realize it until 2 days later when Will and I almost died of shock gttting into a freezing cold shower, so we switched campgrounds two days into the trip which was a little annoying but it worked out well. The new one had free, hot showers for as long as you wanted, free Wi-Fi, and laundry hook ups. It. was. Awesome…weeeeeeellll, except for the fact that a skunk died outside of our trailer the 4th night and stunk it up to high heaven. There is nothing like trying to eat pancakes while smelling that sweet perfume. Yuck! =)
I was really happy with this trip because I sent the projects I had failed to complete last year. My two highlights were Every Color You Are V6, and High Plains Drifter V7. Tommy found a new project, Morning Dove White, a V7 and was 3 moves from the top but didn’t have any gas left. He was totally cashed and technically it was supposed to be our rest day. So next year, he has some scores to settle. We’ve also found some new projects that are going to be great – my new one is Checkerboard, a V8 that is SUPER tall but the moves are great. It has a horrible start and a scary finish but the line is so stunning. Tommy’s new problem is Seven Spanish Angels, a V6. It’s a really cool problem with good moves but sharp holds. He’s excited to get back next year and crush it. =)
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and stuffed themselves full of turkey and pie. We’ll be heading to mom’s again for Christmas so we’re really looking forward to that. =)
Love you all!!
Will playing in the grass outside of the FiveTen outlet...he hadn't puked yet..Climbing the treeThey had a lot of funFirst day out - This is just one of many instances where they're stuffing their faces...Will loved throwing himself on the pads...Loved these colors...Tommy warming up on a cool problem...The boys were content throwing rocksMy turn...this was a really cool rockAnother sit and stuff session...Turkeys...Getting caught trying to steal our trail mix...Cheesing for the camera...He was freezing but refused to put his coat on so he snuggled with me for a minute...My terrorsThrowing rocks...again.Will got in trouble so he went and laid on the pad and hid under Tommy's coat...and then fell asleep. HahaTommy getting ready to give his problem a go...Working a really pockety problem - super fun.Our view on the way to the HappiesWe all got sick the day we arrived...we must have gone through 20 of these Kleenex packages!William messing around in the tent - look at that hair!Crying for his hot chocolate...Third day on - the sun finally came out and gave us beautiful weather. This is Tommy's pad set up - hilariousHenry was such a doll - he tried to help carry the pads but they were way too heavy for him...My little shy guy...Henry did great this year and walked everywhere we went - Will did well too but the majority of the time he was on my shoulders which almost killed me. He is pretty heavy and heaving him up a steep hill and terrain was NOT funSpotting Daddy...adorableYelling at the canyon - it was hilarious...his chant was "Bad Dog!" HahaThis was supposed to be our rest day but Tommy really wanted to try his project again since we wouldn't be coming back to this area. The boys were of course running around and jumping off everythingMaking sure Daddy's got a spot...This is the heart of the Happies...lots of great stuffLook at how big these boulders are...Will looks like a little rag dollTommy giving his project a burn...such hard moves!Mt. Tom covered by clouds. So prettyHere they are stuffing their mouths again...Will looks like he stuck his hand in a light socketHenry doing the zombie run - hilarious!Don't be deceived...this adorable little boy is a terror! =)They started a snowball fightThis was another awesome problem! Green Wall Center V6...this thing really suited my styleHere's Will looking for a good line to climb...And two minutes later he was passed out on the padHere I am climbing to the top of the boulder after I sent my problem - High Plains Drifter V7I did it! Yay!!!This was right after eating Thanksgiving dinner...wow, that turkey took the life out of meView of Mt. Tom from a lower pointHenry crawled up this rock all by himself...He was pretty proud. =)Last day on...Tommy working Seven Spanish Angels. It was a beautiful day!Exploring my new project, Checkerboard V8. This picture does NOT do this rock justice. This thing is huge and the line is so amazing and scaryA view of the Buttermilks in the sun. Beautiful!The boys were messing around in the snow...Really cool rock formations out there...Cool looking tree on the hillside...
Went out to Hueco a couple weeks ago to settle some scores. We both sent our projects and then found a new one. =) We went with our good buddy Stu (who is an absolute riot and joy to hang out with) and had a wonderful time. The pictures are kind of grainy just bc we FORGOT our camera so Stu used his cell. Only 2 weeks until our annual Bishop, CA trip! We are really looking forward to it. Hope everyone is well! Love to all!
Working my problem - Mexican Chicken V6This is one of the funnest ones in the parkThe crux for me was the ending. I fell 3 times previously at the very last holds and so I was absolutely determined to get it this time...And I did!!Woo hoo!Tommy working the roof of ChickenSuch good moves!
Stu started working it with us...the beginning is trickyLots of heels...New project for both Tommy and I - Rudy V7It's such a hard problem - lots of compression and really not my styleStu and Tommy hangin' out - No Stu is not a sailor...he got that hat as a free gift from Moosejaw and was wearing it all over the place. It made everyone laugh. =)Crossing the damn to get to Choir Boys LightLook at how cool this rock is!! Workin on Choir Boys Light V7 - I couldn't even get off the ground. Ha!Tommy made it the farthest out of all of us...Second day on - He didn't get it the first day...but owned it on this one!! Woooo!
This pic gives you some perspective of how big these rocks are...Getting over the lipSecond day for StuSecond day working RudyI got farther this timeSoooo hard...Stu working on Lobster Claw V5 - He sent it the day we left. Good job Stuart!
Took a trip up to Flagstaff this past weekend and had a nice relaxing time. We drove up Thursday night and stayed with Uncle Keto at his gorgeous ranch. We climbed Friday, chilled Saturday and then swam at the Aquaplex on Sunday. It was a nice trip and a great getaway from the heat. Only a week and a half and I’m up in VT running away from zombies!!! Can’t wait…
Climbing at the Draw - we had the place to ourselves!We just got here and already they're stuffing their gobsOur warm up boulder - there were some good problems on thisHenry wanted to climb so I helped him out a little...This trip made us realize that he's gonna want to climb in Bishop this year...It's time to get him some shoes!!! Yay!!!
The next stop after our warm up was an area close to the parking lot called Puzzle Box. It’s a pretty long roof with a decent amount of problems and sits over a small cliff. There was a V5 up there that Tommy and I wanted to tick off so we started working it while trying to keep the boys from falling over the side and tumbling down the hill. Well after a couple tries, Tommy was about to send the problem when he threw for the lip and his feet cut. It was interesting how things suddenly went in to slow motion as he swung out, lost his grip and started flying through the air OVER the cliff. I didn’t want him to dab by touching him so I was somewhat over to the side but I realized the magnitude of the situation and reached my hand out trying to grab him. He yelled “OH SHIT” in mid air while simultaneously grabbing my arm yanking me with him and we both went crashing over the side. We didn’t go very far down because while dragging me along slowed him down, he was also able to grab a small tree and break his tumble. After a few seconds, I started laughing hysterically and Henry thought I was crying and ran over yelling “Mommy are you ok!!?? What’s wrong Mommy!??” It. was. hilarious. Tommy banged up his knee and while being dragged down the cliff, my shoe came off and I scraped the bottom of my foot. Other than that, we were fine but decided not to take another chance and packed it up to head to a safer place. That was our big brush with death this weekend!!! Haha.
Our second stop...Puzzle box. The big tree in the background is where we ended up when Tommy tried to kill me.
The boys were content to throw rocks off the cliff...Since he's not tall enough to climb the roofs, he settled for the treesWhat a monkey!!Last stop of the day - Antimatter RoofThis place was pretty cool - and much safer than Puzzle BoxWorking a V5 - this thing was a bear!!Tommy figured out the sequence at the end...I was cashed and distracted by my children rolling around in the dirtLook at this face...they were SO dirtyStarting to tire outMy gremlinsBack at the house, Keto took the boys for rides on the quad. They loved it!!This was the view from our porch...GorgeousWill attacking the flowersGoofin' offWill was annoyed with Tommy here and Henry stole my soda...turdWrestle time!!
Well, for those of you who keep up with our climbing endeavors, you’ll know that about this time last year, we took a trip to Hueco where I fell off a warm up problem and totally busted up my ankle. After missing the pad with my heel, my foot slammed into the rock and I felt a very sharp tingling sensation go up both sides of my leg from my ankle to my calf muscle. 5 minutes later it was the size of a softball. Honestly, I’m still not sure what I did exactly because I never did go to a doctor. Dumb, I know, but I doubt there’s anything they could have done and they would have told me to stay off of it for a certain amount of time… and we all know that wouldn’t have happened. The reason why that sucked so hard (other than the OBVIOUS ones) was because I was going to try and send a really good problem I had been working the previous trips – and this was our last trip out to Hueco before it got too hot and we had to wait another 8 months to give it another go. Well, of course since I turned into a cripple and had to hobble out of the park, I never did make it out to that problem and that damn rock has been sitting there for a year taunting me from across the desert. Soooo…after almost a year, (and battling to get a freakin’ reservation) we finally made it back out to the park.
Phalyn tooling around on a warm up problemMe on the same problemStu giving "See Spot Run" V6 a couple burnsA cactus blooming...How beautiful is that?
So this is my nemesis. It’s name is Roughage and the going rate is V7. Tommy HATES this problem with a passion and the reason is because he hates spotting me on it. I can’t blame him – the landing is awful, especially when you get high. However, we had plenty of pads and an extra pair of helping hands from our buddy Stu…who also HATES this problem. I’m not sure why this thing gets such a bad rap. Yes, the landing is horrible, but it’s such an awesome mental and physical challenge that everyone who can climb should try it at some point. =)
Brushing off some chalk...The starting sequence is good - but there are micro feetCrossing to a great dishMatched and ready to chuck myself upThe rail is actually very nice if you grab it right...Trying to find some feetI've gotta get to that big ledge up there...It's mine!!Time for the scary part...Stu said he was yelling at me to breathe and Tommy was scrambling to get the pads situated if I fell...Trying to turn a heel into a toe...this took a good couple seconds which felt like an eternity up there...Trying to set my feet to get my right hand...Finally getting my right hand...still not sure if I'm gonna get to the top...Tommy is having a seizure and Stu is beneath me holding up a pad to keep me from rolling off the rockGrabbing the lip...Getting my feet up...Almost over the top!!!And Roughage is down for the count!! Woo hoooooooo!!!!Happy Birthday to ME!!!!!
*The truth of the matter is that I never would have been able to complete this climb if it hadn’t been for Tommy and Stu. It’s a testament to them that I fell off this thing several times and didn’t get hurt once. Great spotters make these highballs possible!
Hey all…once again, apologies for the long hiatus between these posts. Just been really busy lately and trying to get outside as often as possible while the weather is nice. We had a super fun weekend. Took Grandpa to the Bloc (our bouldering gym) for the first time to let him see what we do there and also watch HENRY in action! It’s awesome – this kid is a natural, let me tell you! He’s doing moves already that are insane and he’s just so fun to watch…we need to find him some easy stuff to climb outside. Will has also started to try…he sees Henry climbing away and wants to get up there too, but of course he’s too little and not strong enough yet. But, I have no doubt that he’ll follow in Henry’s footsteps and start crushing really soon. Can’t wait!
Today we spent all afternoon up at a place called Hairpin. I’ve got a project I’m working on up there and then we had some buddies come up and climb with us. We found a really cool spot a ways up where we chilled out and tooled around. It was really beautiful and the boys loved it! Well, anyway, sorry for such a long wait for an updated post. I have a lot of pictures I need to put up – I’ll try and get those up in the next couple days. Hope everyone’s well out there!!
Gettin' on the treadwallWill wanted to get up there so bad.He loves getting high!Look at those moves! =)Full body harness time!My heart!
I can't tell you how much I LOVE these guys that work at the gym. They are so sweet and amazing with our kids - every one of them who works there are like uncles to Henry and Will. Whenever we bring them in, they always hang out and play with them. LOVE.
This is one of our favorite guys...so so fun and funny!
Our good friend, Shelley and the boysThis was the last boulder we were on tonight but the one we spent the most time on cuz it was so fun!A little pool of water from runoff down the mountain...the boys went crazy!
This is a girl we just met recently at the gym. She is CRAZY strong. I think she's going to be really good for me. Haha!This picture gives you a better view of our set up...bouldering on a beach!Here's Spence getting really high...The sun left us a couple hours earlier...we didn't get out of there till dark. So nice.
