Thelma and Louise-less

Long time no post but have been out of internet and phone circulation for a while, and to be honest I am quite enjoying it, because it is too easy, especially for me to get hooked on these kind of things. I am enjoying the total freedom that every day life in the city does not bring unless you really try hard to resist.

Anyway, I decided to leave Boulder as it was not really agreeing with me, so packed up the Hyundia and headed West to the wilds of Utah. It was a fairly long drive just under 500 miles and about 9 and half hours. I was quite weird at first doing such a long drive by myself in a strange country, as all other times I have travelled over such distances in a car has been with my side kick Emma. However, I managed to navigate the 3 turns and then straight line of a road to Utah without any mishap. The automatic gears makes everything very simple, you just sit back and watch out for big trucks.

The climbing area I am in is called Joe's Valley, and has the most amazing amount of beautiful sandstone boulders. On my first night I stayed in a sort of campsite that was more for big caravan/RV's than anything else but was fine for the night. Since then I have been rough camping which is great because it is free but the reservoir is quite chilly for bathing, so not been doing much of that. I am a true skank, and kind of enjoying it.

Anyway, I have met some really lovely kind people who have taken me under their wings, so have had great company for the last week or so. Sadly after about 4 great days of getting used to the new style of climbing my back has decided not to play ball and is very sore. It always happens just when I want it least to be sore, and as usual it did not get sore doing anything great or heroic, just sitting down. It sucks big style and I am very, very annoyed but am trying to look on the bright side of things. At least I have good company at the moment and am in a very beautiful place. I am going to move on to nearer Salt Lake City soon so going to take some rest and then come back to Joe's in a couple of weeks and hopefully be able to kick some sandstone butt.

Sorry for the lack of photos at the moment but will upload some soon.

xxx

Eldorado Canyon

I visited Eldorado Canyon yesterday, now that I have wheels. An all American classic, Hyundia Accent, let me tell you. It is the business, well not quite, but it works and will get me places, even if I do keep reaching for the window winder to change gear. Not that I need to of course because it is automatic.

The canyon was gorgeous, not many places so far especially back home have inspired me to do much trad, but this stuff looked amazing. I did some bouldering and took a hike up a trail and basically just looked at the gorgeous scenery all day.

Me with an amazing view behind me

If you look closely you might be able to see 2 people climbing with no ropes, in fact they were climbing up then down climbing then climbing up etc

I have such a hard life sometimes

Pretty

Anyway I have decided I have had enough of Boulder for just now, I will be back at some point because I have to bring the car back here, but tomorrow I leave for Utah and the wonders that it might bring. x

Photographs by Caroline Harvey

Week 2

Ok so what has been happening this week? A lot and not a lot all at the same time!

I have managed to contact a few people to try and find partners to go out with, so far only one I have got in touch with has been successful but will keep plugging away. I phoned a very friendly and bubbly girl called Lenore (she has a Chihuahua called Chicken) on Tuesday and we climbed up at a boulder called Cloudshadow, I managed a V3 called Consideration, for those interested in such things, but there was also a good traverse that I need to go try again which is a V4. The rock is really rough on the skin up in that area on Flagstaff Mountain, so can not do too much at any one time.

Also on Tuesday received a call from a guy called Tony (room mate of Timmy) who asked to go climbing. We fixed Friday as a date, but I met him on Thursday night at a Reel Rock Tour film show. The films at the show were great. Two films were from a company called Sender Films who have made them as part of a new First Ascent TV series to be shown over here on National Geographic or Nat Geo as it seems to be shortened to. One was about a young climber called Alex Honnold who has done amazing solo ascents of some massive, and I mean Yosemite massive faces. Incredible and fascinating to watch, some people are just so talented it is truely amazing. The second of these films was a sad and poignant film about a female Brazilian climber who died tragically in a car accident and really followed the story of her boyfriends return to Patagonia to scatter her ashes. I have to say it brought a tear to my eye, but most tragic love stories do since I am a die hard romantic at heart. The last film was a Josh Lowell, Big Up productions movie that included numerous big climbing names eg Tommy Caldwell and the gorgeous Chris Sharma.

Sorry, that has probably bored all you non climber folk, but the gist of the story is that I had a good night out and had chats with new peeps.

Friday I climbed a trad, yes trad(!), route with Tony on Cob rock. i think it was about a 5.6 which is about a VS in British money. I only seconded but it was nice to be out and on rock so I won't complain.

Saturday, I wandered back up to the Satellite boulders early in the morning. I thought i was going to be on my own again when another couple showed up. Seth and Rebecca. They were, like most Americans I have met so far, extremely polite and friendly, and they showed me some good problems. I managed a V4 roof! They invited me to go with them to Rocky Mountain National Park this morning (Sunday) which I instantly accepted. There are some amazing looking hard problems up there, if only I were uber strong. I climbed reasonably well, but nothing too hard, need to go back and finish an annoying V4 that I should be able to do. The rock up there is gorgeous striated granite. You really get the sense of vastness too.

So all in all not too bad a week really, although the time difference between the UK and here is killing me. Everyone is asleep when I would like a chat, and you all know I like a good blether from time to time. Nevermind, I will struggle on!

Tomorrow I give Spock back to the bike shop, and I have to say I am going to miss him, he has been a good pal over the last week or so. I am trading him in and getting a car. Yikes. Will let you know how that goes.

Boulder Theatre at night

Cob Rock my first American Trad route

Cheeky chipmonk eating Rebecca's lunch

Rocky mountain national park

Did a couple of nice problems on this boulder

Blogging food American style a huge can of juice, 680ml, and peanut butter M&m's

As an aside for all you people out there who have children or may have children. If they tell you that they are going to go to college in the States, before you say "that's great see you in 4 years", ask which college, because it would appear to me that here at CU all they do is party. Nothing else. Not that I have anything against parties, I love parties and have been known to "swally" a few pints in my time, but Thursday night till 4am, Friday night till about 2am and last night again till 4am. I am turning into a grumpy old woman, bah!

Photos by Caroline Harvey.

Grave Signs

Well I thought it was funny!