catching up...

ok, i'm already terrible with keeping this blog!  as all of you know, i dont do that social networking stuff bc 1) i'm not a huge fan of putting myself out there, and 2) it consumes so much time!  however, with a trip like this, i'm sure that i'll be telling the same stories over and over via emails, so why not put them in one place where i can share with everyone!  not to mention, so many people have suggested that i do this.. just to keep in touch, and well, some people are actually interested in what could be happening!  so i'll do my best, but i've been told.. i write with free-flowing thought ;)  so i'll try to make this as coherent as possible!  and short and sweet ;)

so..  its been a while.  a long long while.  can you believe that my last day of work was april 22??  what are the highlights since then, you ask?

i lived at the New River Gorge for 4+ weeks.  the first two weeks didnt include a lot of climbing.  it was very rainy and i was studying for my PMP exam, which I PASSED!  yep, i'm PMP certified!  thank you, thank you.  ;)  the last two weeks included a LOT of climbing.  it was great!  sent a few projects and added a bunch of new ones.  im excited to come back in the fall!


Nessa is loaded up and we're ready to go!

in june, we spent a day and a half in dc so that jason could exit his job.  then we were off to PA for a couple days to drop off the rest of jason's belongings to storage, and to finish up Nessa!  and so begins our issues with the van.  :(  while in PA, we take the van to a mechanic for a check-up.  we find there is a gas leak.  the mechanic easily finds the issue and replaces some return line gauge.  mm hmm, remember that ..

we finally head out west!  we're taking two cars, Nessa and Daisy (my silver versa).  fortunately, we had walkie talkies, which i highly recommend if you're doing a drive like this separately.

day 1:  drive 12+ hrs to stop in chicago.  did you know there are tolls in ohio, indiana, AND chicago?  yes, there are.  and its expensive.  i suggest you take a different route.  however, on the upside, we got to visit with my auntie!  she was so nice and hospitable!  (again, thank you so much!)  she stayed up and waited up for us - we arrived at 1am, and cooked us dinner!  so yum!  we stayed a night and headed out in the am.  as we stop at a gas station, we notice that there is a film all over the front of my car and we realize its diesel gasoline from Nessa.  yep, the issues continue.  we'll get her checked out when we get to colorado.  in the meantime, ill take the lead when driving.

Nessa and a sign for state college!

and ohio!

and indiana!

day 2:  drive another 11+ hrs and stop at a rest stop in NE.  our first night in the van!  lily and mikko enjoyed it too.  mikko was everywhere looking out all the windows.  lily was chilling out on the bed.  sleeping in the van is cool and very comfortable.  having a bed is awesome!

iowa is FULL of these huge, HUGE windmills.  fields and fields of them!

day 3:  drive 6 more hrs and arrive in colorado at my dad's!  finally, we're here!  the drive out west is complete!

touchdown colorado!

mikko, lily, jason, and sobe (my dad's dog)!  haha ;)

we planned to spend about a week in westminster/denver.  our first task, we're going climbing!  ;)  during our stay, we checked out Boulder Canyon, Clear Creek Canyon, Monestery, and the Flatirons.  all of them are awesome places.  all of them are very different.  generally, climbing in colorado is different.  a lot of the climbs were stemmy with dihedrals.  thats my thought anyway - altho these pics dont show it ;)  it was fun getting to climb something different, build a different skill set.

boulder canyon:


tyrols are not easy...

 the natali (yep plural!). .

found a cool shady spot with awesome climbs!

clear creek:


the three of us are always reunited in colorado!  

"arete" climbing altho this was more face climbing next to the arete ;)

looking strong .. one of his hardest climbs ;)

steep .. but a BOMBERRR jug!

monastery:  here's an aerial view from mountainproject.com:  http://www.mountainproject.com/v/105856562


the ground between the climbs is very steep.  this photo is taken from me pointing downward.  definitely scrambling between climbs.

now im taking a picture looking up at jason.. steep!

and simon.  hes leaning over and hanging the first draw of his project.  human stick clip!

these photos dont do this place any justice.  there are hard, steep climbs on the left.  slabby climbs on the right.  you can climb on each side of these "plates" in the ground.  monastary looks really amazing.

this was funny.. jason taking a burn on a climb.  hes 20' off the ground but yet his belayer, walt, and friend, simon (pointing out some holds), are right there behind him.

first flatiron:  ok, jason decided on a classic 5.6 that went to the very top.  5 pitches to reach the top of the flatiron, and then 3 pitches of traversing to get to the rappel station (we actually simul-climbed.  my first time doing something like that!).  the views were really something else .. and the climbing wasnt hard at all.  however, i am actually afraid of heights, so this was a little intimidating for me.  i was climbing slowly, focused and safe .. on my rope.  and what do you know.. at least FIVE people go free soloing past us!  hahaah i had to laugh.  here i am, freaking out .. and these people are climbing right past me without a rope!  one guy was even in approach shoes, not even climbing shoes!  talk about awesome..!!


these trails were amazing.. so well kept.  signs are marked well.  jason is actually pointing to the flatiron that we climbed ;)  yes we climbed all of that!

pitch 1.  jason checking his messages since we were expecting a call from Mercedes.  the view was awesome!

pitch 4.  those huge "flakes" created these ravines and tunnels that you have to navigate.

we're at the top of the flatiron!  and traversing to the rappel station.  i do not feel at ease up here!  jason was walking along like its no big deal, but i was still essentially crawling over the rock.

cant forget the summit photo!

at the same time, our next immediate task, take Nessa for another appointment.  luckily, we found a mercedes mechanic just a few miles from my dad's.  initially, they thought it was the same return line that we already had replaced in PA.  i cant even remember what they eventually found, but whatever it was.. they "fixed" the issue in a few days.  so when the van is done, we pick her up and dont get half a mile from the dealership as the van stalls.  jason shuts off the engine and starts her again and she'll run a few feet and stall out again.  we actually get the van home and call the dealership.  we have an appt to bring her back in the following morning (yes, more delays).  we take her back in, and yep, they find more issues.  another few days, and we pick her up, and she stalls again!  sigh, this is extremely frustrating.  we drive her back immediately this time, and sit around a couple hours and await a new description of what is really wrong.  this time, they find a malfunctioning valve, which they say is the root of all the problems.  it'll take 4 days for the part to be ordered from germany.  so be it.  finally, yes finally, we pick up Nessa .. and she seems to be working!  so we planned for a week or so in the denver metro area, but ended up spending almost two weeks.  it actually worked out great bc while getting the van really ready to go, we had a place to stay, lots of friends to visit, lots of different climbing areas .. it could have been worse.  thank you dad for all your hospitality :)  and thx bro and jk!!  i already miss lily and mikko so much but i know they are in good hands!  :)  thank you for taking them in.

finally, it brings us to the current time.

we've hit the road!  our first stop is rifle!