June Climbing Trips - finally!

After couple of days climbing locally, it seems my tendonitis is holding up. It's been about 19 months since I've climbed consistently. I'm hoping it's not a "false summit" - like 2 other times. So AWAY we GO on climbing trips! Yeah - easy climbing for me. First trip was to Shelf Road - between Canon City and Cripple Creek. Here's a few pics I shot and this is a fun video I shot of Julia climbing. Turn up the volume and you'll hear the never ending song of birds. Last weekend's trip was to Vedauwoo. Vedauwoo is a special place between Cheyenne and Laramie. Beautiful granite formations among meadows, Ponderosa, Fir and Aspens. The Coopers family - Tom, Karen & Jessica, joined us. Pics are here . This is a great shot of Jessica climbing.

Memorial Day Utah & Canyoneering Trip - 2009

Although wet and muddy, this was a great trip! Clare Shemeta & her kids, Mia & Russell joined us for the weekend. A muddy camp in in front of the San Rafael Reef got the trip off to a .. well muddy start. We did a fun loop hike in Natural Bridges Nat. Park between Sipapu Bridge and Kachina Bridge. The water really added to the beauty. In spite of the weather, we mnaged to squeeze Fry Canyon in. The kids kept saying "Awesome" as we got underway. When we had to swim the wet sections, the reactions varied between kids. I caught a nice one of Julia here: More pics HERE!

Bear!

BEAR! I heard something at the front door. Too late for a human visitor so it must be an animal. Yep. I see it now. Black and about 2 feet high at the shoulder - a yearling. .. and it was heading for the garage .. which was open .. which had garbage. Dang! By the time I ran to the other end of the house, the bear was dragging the garbage can outside. Mia started banging pots while I stepped into the garage (w/ door in hand) to see who intimidated who more. The bear stood it's ground. I looked around for something to throw but couldn't find anything close. I knew that if the bear got the lid off the can, it would be a problem forever. Finally, it backed off as I yelled from the top of the stairs and Mia dented the pans together. Finally, I rescued the can but the bear was holding it's ground about 15 feet away. I pulled the can inside and shut the garage door as it finally ran off. I love bears but I think this one is going to be a pest.

Sig Papp - Enjoying new mountain ranges in heaven

Today was Sig's memorial service. Sig was 67. He was the first to show me there's more than climbing crags and technical routes in the peaks. He died suddenly of a heart attack. Sig introduced me to 14'eers and the Utah desert. From Castle Peak to the traverse of the Maroon Bells (including a biviouac) to my first trip to Canyonlands National Park. We did the Notch Couloir on Long's Peak and there were the weekly after work climbing days with the Rocky Flats Mountaineering club. We did a an incredible week of backpacking in the Sangre de Cristo Range .. and a winter camp below St. Mary's glacier - Lot of drinking & chess on that trip. We ski toured well before wide skiis and plastic boots. It might have been a day trip to Indian Peaks, the Commando Run or a few days at the Tagert hut (before the 10th Mountain hut system) above Aspen. Usually there were no lack of people on these trips .. and no lack of laughter and beer back at camp. Sig was an explorer. He'd always get out and see something he'd never seen before .. shared with good friends. It was bittersweet to go the the memorial service and reception afterwards. It was good to see his wife, Ellen & his "kids", Mike and Kathy. It was good to see many colleagues and comrades from our prior work - Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapon facility. Many of these people had been on this trips and I haven't seen many of them for at least 14 years. I'm making plans with some of them for a fall trip to Utah. Sig would like that. Well Sig, bye for now and thanks for the great times ...

Julia's 7th Birthday

We lost count of the kids Julia invited. Luckily it was outside - and the weather was decent. We had a treasure hunt, a relay race with 2 wooden spoons holding a potato (not as easy as it sounds), a tug of war and the usual whack the piñata for food supplies - I mean candy!! It was a riot! That's Julia in front during the tug of war. Guess who is on the other end? Me! I was slowly losing. Then Mia joined in on the girls side and they dragged me through the dirt. Dang. I thought age and technique ruled over youth & power .. More pics are here.

Julia wants pierced ears

6 YO Daughter: Mama, can I have my ears pierced? Mama: It's ok w/ me but talk to your papa. 6 YO Daughter: Papa, can I have my ears pierced? Me: Sure, no problem 6 YO Daughter: Thanks Papa. You're a good papa. ... she skips away ... she skips back 6 YO Daughter: Can we go now? Me: Now? I was thinking when you're 12 years old 6 YO Daughter: Papa! We need to talk! I want them pierced for my 7th birthday. Me: Oh, that's different. What about 11 years old? 6 YO Daughter: Everyone in my class has pierced ears. Me: You don't want to be the same as everyone else do you? 6 YO Daughter: Papa! Me: What about 10 years old? 6 YO Daughter: Papaaaa !!! It's looking bleak for me with the 2 gals against me. I'm saving my best line for last though: "I own your ears until you are 12" ;-)

Cooking & Music without Mama

As we drove home after Julia's climbing practice, we talked about dinner. It became very apparent that Julia believes she is much better cook than I. Now that wouldn't take much but I certainly can cook better than a 6 year old. I couldn't shake her belief though. She told me about when she showed me how to separate an egg (true but ..) etc. Not wanting to discourage her, I moved the subject to music. We drove home, into the foothills, accompanied by Grateful Dead. I like the Dead much more now than when I was younger. Julia confirmed that appreciation of the Dead is indeed age dependent. She gave it a thumbs down.