So I finished the PCT. Really! Got the photos to prove it. In true PCT fashion I'll refrain from writing anything about walking in Washington. For whatever reason no one ever told me jack about the last three weeks even after giving me the step-by-step story of the Sierras and other sections. I'll leave the mystery alive.
What followed was a lot of floundering around in Santa Barbara trying to figure out what to do next with my life. I got an easy gig working at a local gear shop and set out to readjusting to life indoors with hopes to sort out the next big step. By my birthday, almost a half year later, I was still at the shop with no big plans on board and burning out on uninspired wage-working. Shit! It was time to start making some moves. Started looking into grad school (back to school, the moment I've been dreading!) and set my sights on getting into a masters of social work program. I also lined up some outdoor ed work with Adventure Treks and spent the summer kickin' it in Utah - hiking, biking, rafting, climbing, and canyoneering. That felt better than the shop for sure!
Long story short, I'm heading to Boston University next fall to start a 2 year MSW program. While I got that together, I cashed out on gear deals from the shop to put together my climbing rack. It's finally time to get my climbing together for realsies. I spent the last winter learning the trad ropes (using removable protection - the stuff that catches you if you fall), training for the tall stuff, and trying to get my head together and control the fear factor. Weekend laps to Joshua Tree were the name of the game with my first big wall in the mix! A couple weeks before our big departure Neil and I climbed up the West Face of Leaning Tower in Yosemite Valley, spending two nights on the cliff and learning all the aid-climbing shenanigans (climbing using removable gear and rope ladders) as we went. I'll get those photos up by the end of the summer. Solid adventure and good hard work for the training! Got to do a little craft with it too, making my own haul bag to drag all my stuff up behind us with.
Now, its on! My buddy Neil (who I worked with in Utah) and I have set out for a 6 week sierra climbing saga. The plan: to hang in Tuolumne Meadows getting our systems dialed before heading backcountry to tick off some of the classic peaks strewn about between Mt. Whitney and Yosemite Valley. So far we've been in Tuolumne for almost two weeks. The first eight days we set to work ticking off the classic moderates: Cathedral Peak, Eichorn's pinnacle, Matthes Crest, West Crack, Northwest Books, Dozier Dome, etc. Getting it done! Haven't jumped on Fairview Dome or On the Lamb yet - two classic 5.9s on my ticklist that are probably at my trad leading limit. Wanted to feel nice and cozy before those. Maybe we'll have to come back to get 'em.
These last few days I've been commuting to town getting the apartment finding work done. I think we found something in Union Square and now I'm just sorting out all the details of trying to convince them that a) I'm a real person, b) I have real money and am planning to pay rent with it, c) I'm actually coming to Boston and will want a place to live, and d)they can have my money now. It's all a little hard with me in the coffee shop and Leigh busy working at home (not to mention some account number theft complications to make it more interesting) but we're getting in done. I the meantime Neil's pushing his limits, climbing some 5.10s with our Australian buddy Hue that we met and have been sharing a site with. Perfect! He'll get the scary stuff out of his system and want to climb back at my level by the time I'm done here.
This weekend Leigh and the Goleta Gang are coming up to visit (yay!) and then next week our first backcountry adventure begins: the West Ridge of Mt. Conness. Peter Croft (climber, author, legend) once described the climb as the best moderate alpine style line in and around Tuolumne. It's gotta be good! If you know where you're going (which we don't) and want to have an epic day (happens, but I never plan on it!) you can do it in a day. We're gonna get some backpacking in the mix and do it in 2 or 3. We'll hike in, give ourselves plenty of time to get lost on the approach, and keep our days comfy and cruiser (although the epic is always knockin'). I'll let ya'll know how it goes next time I hop online.
Until then, check out the pics I have from Tuolumne. More to come!
