Getting skunked rock climbing style

Well this morning we were up early (7:30) and heading out the door to climb with Future in Little Cottonwood canyon where a section broke out of the mountain leaving and gnarly face to tackle.  From the road it look awesome, and as we approached through the trees it looked even better.  About half way up the hike Toby picked up on some bear tracks, another first for me!  Luckily the bear wasn't near by, or at least that we could tell.  When we got to the boulder that was the section that broke away from the mountain we were in awe at the state it settled in.  As it broke off, apparently in sections, the rocks collided and left a nice little passage between each other (see pics).  This offered a really cool spot to climb with the right gear, but unfortunately we didn't have that said gear with us today.

So a short bit more and we reached the opening and were staring at the massive face, a solid 100 yards long and a good 35-40ft tall at the climbing point.  There was a semi steep face that went up to a shelf that was somewhat manageable to walk on granted you kept your footing in mind.  Toby skimpered up that so he could take a look at the route that we were told existed on the far left of the face.  After looking for a couple minutes we realized there was no route!  A couple phone calls got us nowhere and we all looked at each other in amazement and disbelief wondering "what do we do now?"  We just hiked up this hill quite a ways through some nasty brush to have nothing to climb?  We hoped that maybe the route was on one of the sides just out of view, so we checked those out.  Nope.  Dang!

So down the hill we went, around the boulders, through the woods (this time we found a slight path that had been traveled recently), and eventually back to the cars to call it a morning.  Why not go somewhere else you ask?  The light was the main reason we headed up rather early, when the light is on the climber it's just not the perfect scenario, and for a climb like this we need the light to be perfect.  Oh well, this evening will have to do.

The gap between the fallen boulders, notice the size of the rocks compared to future climbing up into them:

The climbing face from the boulders:

Toby climbing up to the face:

Where the section was supposed to be:

...and the walk of shame...no climb this morning : (

More pics on my smugmug site under the "Climbing and Hiking/Hiking" section.  Since we didn't actually climb I figured it would be false advertising putting it in the climbing section.

Once home Toby and I ate some food like we usually do all the time, then rode out bike down to Tanner Park to check out the dirt jump scene.  It was slightly out of our league!  So we came back and both of us crashed.  I woke up when Toby was leaving to go bouldering with Future, and am now writing this before I go see Star Trek (can't believe in a million years I am going to a theater to watch Star Trek!).  Good night all.

My First Real Hike

Well, had some down time this afternoon and was feeling good so I took off from the house and headed UP!  There is a good size mountain directly behind us, not sure how tall it is, but it's up there far enough for a midwesterner like me.  To make a long story short the accent took a little more than an hour and about 40min to hike down.  The view is always breath taking (or maybe that was the altitude getting to my lungs), and it just makes you feel great to make it up to the top...well almost.  From the road the 'top' is not actually the top.  Once I got on the rocks that appeared to be the top of the mountain I found out it was far from it.  Probably another hour hike to make it all the way and not what I could handle this early on.  Here is a pic of me at the highest point I made it to.

The house is down there in the first neighborhood.  Trust me when I say it's a LONG ways down!

The actual top is this:

Picked up another hobby today!

So what do people do that want to rock climb but are scared to death of heights? They "Boulder." That's right, it's a sport of climbing these huge boulders. Some are only 8ft tall, some are 20ft. Some are easy, some are extremely difficult and offer an excellent challenge to even the most experienced climbers. Either way it's a lot of fun and a heck of a lot cheaper than actual rock climbing since you don't have to have all the gear associated with hanging off cliffs.
Anyways, today Toby and I went bouldering for a bit this morning. It was my first time, and I must say it was rather difficult, especially on my sensitive office working hands. The strength needed to hold your entire body by only your finger tips or stand on just the tip of your toes is far greater than expected. Here is a pic of the first boulder I climbed.

Here is a pic of Toby climbing up a more difficult boulder.

Getting Ready For Some Camping!

Got most all of my camping gear (don't ask how much it all cost). Been setting up/tearing down the tent so I can do it with my eyes closed some day. Here she is all setup in the back yard. I was going to sleep in it tonight, but since I've been drinking tons of water while getting used to the altitude I end up needing to get up at night about 3 times to hit the restroom!

Heading to MOAB!!!!

Well, tomorrow Tobias and I are taking off to Moab UT, which is known as one of the best mountain biking destinations in the US, if not THE BEST (EDIT: postponing the trip a couple days).  It's only 4 hours away which is nice, so we'll be able to ride tomorrow afternoon for sure.  The weather will be a little on the hot side, mid 80's which will feel like 100 because all of the rock and no shade, but if we don't go now we'd have to wait until fall.  

Took a drive around SLC today visiting bike shops.  The city is very packed in.  Small yards, tons of shops and restaurants, and people out everywhere.  One really nice thing about SLC is how the people are geared towards being outside and enjoying nature.  You see people riding their bikes all the time, and not just for leisure.  Many people ride to work, to stores, or out for lunch.  The atmosphere is also a lot more laid back and it shows in the way people talk to you.  So far I like it a lot more than the environment back in the midwest.  Another example; when people get off of work they rush home to head right back out the door to go cycling, rock climbing, hiking, skiing, anything to do with being active and outside.  Exactly the type of lifestyle I was looking for.  I can now see why Toby likes it here so much.

So after Moab I'm going to start camping here and there.  Not sure where the next trip is going to be.  The weather here is perfect right now so we may stick around and hit up the trails around here before it gets too hot.  Once mid June comes around, Toby has to start working again and I will plan a few week long trips to some other well known mtb areas.  Will keep you updated!

Another super day in SLC

Weather here is perfect this time of year.  Sunny and around 70, which feels more like high 70's because the altitude intensifies the sun's effect.  Toby and I rode to a nearby park in the morning, then went to I Street Trails which is a dirt jumping park.  See the pics on my smugmug page under MTB/Trail Pics.  Here's one of Toby going off a jump.

My body is tired, sore, trying to keep up with the activities but not doing so well.  I'm taking tomorrow off from riding and may go 'bouldering' with Toby which is like rock climbing but just on large boulders (10-15ft tall).  It's a way for people like me with a fear of heights to have some climbing fun.  

Short update

Still in SLC.  Been riding each day and it's kickin my butt.  In Peoria a ride is usually only 5-7 miles and not much in the way of hills.  Out here you start your ride by climbing up a mountain (not walking, but riding) and that is anywhere from 2 to 6 miles of uphill terror.  From that point you actually start the fun stuff.  I have been struggling to recover from each day's ride, so every day it's been harder and harder for me, and that doesn't include the altitude difference.  

Today we rode in Park City which is a beautiful town just 20min east of SLC.  The ride was a bit more mellow on the climb which was nice, but the rest was flat out fast.  By far the fastest single track I've ever ridden and way cool.  I did have my first fall today and even nicked the bike up a bit : ( along with some cuts and bruises on my right side which took the hit on some rocks.  That's riding for ya though.

Supposed to head down to Moab in a couple of days so I'm taking a few days off from anything crazy to hopefully get back to 100%.  

Few new pics on my site...see above post on how to find those.

Day 2 in SLC

Jeez, what a wuss I am. I woke up a little sore, especially my knee, so I threw on the brace before we took off for some more rock climbing with Toby, Mike, and "Future" from Dallas. Future is a young climbing, only out of high school for a year, but is already very well known for his crazy sick climbing abilities. When he came out to SLC for some climbing him and Toby hooked up to do some climbing and photographing for Future's sponsors. Needless to say these guys convinces me that they are crazy! Check out the pics of Future climbing this overhang, look for the little guy in blue shirt (more at my site).

I actually got a little bored of looking up and my neck was giving me hell too, so I wrote in my journal for about an hour on the side of the mountain while they put their lives on the line. I started to get a little hot from the scorching sun so I took a short hike up the mountain we were on. Another first, not the hike, but I came across some moose poop! It was like 30 large grapes in a pile : )

Got to see a neat little waterfall, but unfortunately my camera battery was flashing red so I didn't take it on my hike. Right before we left I took a self portrait overlooking the canyon we were in.

Once Matt got home from work we took off up the canyon road to ride the same trail I did the day before. Toby was being fairly nice to me knowing I wasn't in super shape, but Matt had none of that pity for me and was soon out of sight climbing the long accent. Needless to say as I sit here typing this my legs are sore! But I'm glad I pushed it because that is the only way I'll get in shape quick.

Next week we might head down to Moab if it doesn't hit 90 degrees, so I need to be ready for that.

I'm sore, tired, ready for bed...I'm out.

The first day!

Couldn't have been better. I got to SLC around 11:30, Toby and I took off to some local bike shops and a REI to look for some camping equip and biking shorts. When we got back we took off from the house up a canyon to hit a fun trail. The climb up the canyon wasn't so fun, about 5.5miles all uphill!!!! My butt was not ready for that, yet alone handling it in the altitude. At one point on the road a sign said 5,800ft and I tell you what, that makes a big difference especially for someone coming from ~400ft. Once we got on the trail it was pretty easy and fast. The trail basically runs alongside the mountain and slightly downhill, enough that I was on my large chain ring the entire time except one short uphill section. At the end of the trail there is an overlook of the city that offered a splendid view of SLC.

The downhill section was crazy fun! Had to ride the brakes basically the entire time and maneuver around lots of rocks. Definitely not like the short downhill sections back in Peoria.

After we got back home Toby, Matt, Mike, and I went rock climbing (ok, so I didn't actually climb but I watched). It was super cool seeing them scale up the rocks like I've never seen before, and these were considered easy!

Right before dark Toby tried climbing a more difficult rock but light quickly faded and he had to come down.

Another first was I saw a moose! It was just a baby, but none the less super cool. Even the baby was huge compared to the deer back home.

The drive west

Well, the day finally came. I left Wednesday May 6th at 3:30am from my friend Nick's house heading for Denver to stay at a family members house for the night. The drive was the longest I've ever done by myself, and actually the longest period. Total it took 14hrs 20min with 4 very quick stops for gas and lunch.

The drive itself is rather boring. I mean, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and eastern Colorado can't get much worse than that. I was bored enough I took a bunch of pics while driving and posted them under the "Travel" section of my smugmug page (look at the links on this page for that site).

It was nice getting to Denver with plenty of light left. There was some decent overcast that hovered over the mountains, but in a few you can barely see them as I approached from the far side of Denver. The first time I actually saw them I was 88 miles from my destination which is a good 10 miles from the base of the mountains, so I could see them from app 100miles away! It sounds weird, but I got a little choked up when I first saw them. I felt like Clark Griswald when he saw Wally World in the first Vacation series movie.

The next morning I left at 4:40am for Salt Lake City Utah. The first hour or so was in the dark, but as I approached Cheyenne Wyoming the sun very quickly rose to light up the rather barren landscape. One cool thing was all the antelope I saw on this section of the trip. I guessed I saw close to 1,000 total in Colorado and Wyoming!

One thing I didn't realize was the altitude difference heading up into Wyoming. Denver is app 5,000ft and just 90miles north Cheyenne is around 7,360ft and the pass up to Laramie is approaching 8,000ft! The car definitely doesn't have the power at the altitude to make it up hills without downshifting, and it kills your gas mileage too!

After Laramie Wyoming becomes a high altitude desert offering very little to the eye, at least along highway 80. There were a few straight sections of road that seemed to disappear into the horizon, and it felt like nothing cruising at 90mph : )

Once I approached Utah the Wasatch mountain range showed it's snow covered caps in the distant. My excitement grew as I got closer and closer. The drive down into the valley to SLC was fun, a bunch of twisty roads that offered plenty of fun for enthusiastic drivers. Like many cities nestled away in the mountains, you basically come around a corner and there it is. The city is surrounded by mountains on both east and west that still hold some deep snow. You can't really see the Salt Lake unless you are on a hill, and the city seems to go off into the farthest stretches of your eyesight. Overall it's beautiful to look at. Lucky for me Toby's house is right at the entrance of 80 into the city and just 1/4mile off the highway!