Yosemite climbing time

When Zach needed a climbing partner in Yosemite to make the most of his time before starting Seminary this summer, I gladly obliged.

On my second climbing trip in Yosemite, I feel very fortunate. Fortunate to have friends to host me and to climb with all over the country, and fortunate to have a job that allows me to be in many places doing what I love, and still doing work that I believe in. 

We first attempted to climb the Regular Route on Higher Spire Cathedral. Within the first pitch we realized that something was just not right and decided to bail. It ended up being a hilarious, mini-epic getting down. We later learned we were nowhere near the regular route, which explained why our rope was 30 feet short of the ground and why Zach took several large rocks off in trying to find an intermediate rappel. We went directly to the uber, classic nutcracker and reached the summit right at dark.

One of the rocks extracted from Higher Spire in our ridiculous efforts to bail on what was
definitely NOT the Regular Route

Happiness on the Nutcracker
(I think this was from Nutcracker. If not, it expresses the happiness we felt to be on a clear, classic and beautiful line!)

Central Pillar of Frenzy (CPF) was a must for both Zach and I. We ended up waiting 3 hours and 45 minutes for it!!! (Tip: if Euros wearing bike helmets are getting on before you, go find a different climb!) While waiting we made new friends and built and arch out of rocks. Then we crushed CPF! Well, all except for the second pitch. This 5.9 finger crack pitch was the only one crushing, and it was crushing me.

Thank goodness Braille Book is a spectacular climb (my favorite of the trip), because the approach to it is exhausting!! 

View of Higher Spire from Braille Book

4th pitch of Braille Book. I was feeling real strong until right about here. Then it got down to business and effectively shut down my pride.

The sun was setting when we reached the summit and the colors were BEAUTIFUL!

We took a rest day and floated down the Merced with good company. To my great and pleasant surprise, Yoav and Ilona were back in Yosemite. (Yoav and Ilona let Anthony and I camp with them last time I was in Yosemite. It was great fortune to meet them here again!) Another delightful treat was hanging out with Sara again. We were instant BFFs last year and needed a reunion full of girl talk.

We did it! We finally bagged Higher Spire, the tallest free standing Spire in North America (or something like that).

El Cap is an intimidating, daunting and powerful sight from here.

We hit a classic on Hair Raiser Buttress near Lee Vining on our way out. It was crazy windy and cold, but we were glad that we did it!

Thanks for the great trip and climbing Zach!!!

Costa Rica

Costa Rica was more beautiful, the people kinder, and the food more delicious than my memories allowed me to remember. 

Seven years ago I lived in Costa Rica for six months. It was my first time out of the country and it was wonderful (despite the fact that I had a herniated disk the entire time!!). Returning to the place of my first full immersion experience reminded me of my love for Spanish and for the places and people that speak it.

We arrived in San Jose and stayed with my "Familia Gringa", the Gaults. They cared for me through back surgeries and gave me a home during my six months studying and teaching in Costa Rica.

 As our first goal was to explore Corcovado National Park in the Osa Peninsula, we skipped the 8 hour car ride and took a plane to Puerto Jimenez.

After riding bikes for an hour and a half on a sandy road looking for a beach, we finally decided to just stop for a beer and some lunch, and I filled my longing for salsa lizano. The best sauce ever.

   
 

We wimped out of the 13 mile hike into the park after our guide offered us a super deal to fly in so that he  could also avoid the hike :). The flight proved to be an adventure and delight in itself.



Roger, the best guide ever!!!




We flew just over the canopy and landed on a small strip of grass in the middle of the jungle.

Sweet sloth!!! This was the first critter we saw.

A beautiful toucan

This was an estrangular fig. It grows from the top of a tree to the ground and can kill the tree it is growing from as it cuts off the tree's sunlight. This one killed the tree from which it grew, leaving a hollow center with winding vines. It made for a delightful climbing tree!

Bird eater snake. I touched him!


Playa Corcovado

After Corcovado, we took two boats, a taxi, and a bus to get to Uvita, Thankfully, a friend of a friend (Carlos), became our own personal guide for the Uvita area. Carlos gave us all of the surf and beach beta he had. We surfed and explored a new beach each day, and stayed in the mountains without electricity and with outdoor showers. I love outdoor showers!!

We went dancing for Elena's birthday. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), no one was there so we had our own little reggae party by ourselves. This is the 4th consecutive birthday that Elena has spent with me. The last two have been on trips with me!! I am honored

Playa Ventanas

The waterfall, known at "the waterfall". It evidently has no other name.

I also slide from the top of this waterfall. It was great fun. Elena was too chicken to do it! :)

On the mountain overlooking Uvita

Playa Hermosa in Uvita

At Playa Ventanas there are two tunnels that cut through the rock which lead from the shore to the ocean.  

Elena is the greatest travel partner. I will go with you anywhere sister, you just name when and where!!

I leave you with this, the funniest sign I have ever seen. As Mrs. Gault says, somethings get lost in translation...

 

What's new....TV and Burgers

So it’s been awhile. What can I say, I am living a somewhat “normal” life and that seems to diminish my blogging motivation. There are several things, however, that are new and not normal for me since moving to Boulder.

1.    I am eating A LOT of hamburgers. Man oh man, so delicious. Someone come visit me and I will take you on a hamburger tour!

2.  I bought a TV. Only a few times since living at home with mom and dad has there been a TV in my home. I certainly never owned one. But I do now!!!  

3.  I have become seriously addicted to several TV shows. Modern Family, Spartacus, Friday Night Lights, and (currently) The Game of Thrones. I just can’t get enough.

4. I eat ice cream everyday….ok, nothing is new about that.

I think this may be a small (and uncreative) sub-conscience rebellion against the healthy, wealthy, sustainable, and extreme athletic scene of Boulder that makes me want to puke in my mouth a little. If you’ve talked to me lately, you've most likely heard my diatribe.

All that said, Boulder is really good for coffee shops, biking and climbing; all of which are also a part of my daily, “normal” life.  I do my work from home, the beautiful library, or a coffee shop; get an outdoor, post-work climb; and ride my little blue bike all over town in nice bike lanes. I really shouldn’t complain…..but I often still do : /