Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Hooray for Ouray - Have an Ice Day!!

So as you might be able to tell form the title of this post, Ouray Colorado passes the test. More than passes the test. WAY more than passes the test!

We found a great homebrew bar - yes, a homebrew bar. Not a microbrewery, Home Brew. The place is unlike anything we'd ever seen, complete with a hanging swing chair mounted on a race that allows the bartender, "Mr. Grumnpy Pants" (aka Hutch) to slide down the length of the bar without standing up! He makes great stuff too - our favorite was the Scotch Ale. We are going back for more tonight.

 Here's Hutch with my Tour of his homebrews!

Other than the beer, we have found the climbing to be quite agreeable. The Box Canyon Falls area is stunningly beautiful, the ice is really stunning and the climbing is... well, it's amazing! We top roped some WI3's yesterday and played on some shorter, easier stuff today. In fact I lead my first ice climb - a WI2 - onsite today. It was kick ass! The worst part of leading ice for me was realizing I was going to have to spend a lot more money on gear now. I loved it!

Me at the top of my first ice lead!

We will enjoy 2 more days of climbing here in Ouray before heading home. I hope things are going as well for Rich and Wendie on the Ski Holiday as they are here.



Till next time!!!

 

Sunday, January 23, 2011

(Not so) Grand Junction

13 hours in a CRV is not training for the JMT.

13 hours in a CRV is not training for anything.

13 hours in a CRV from L.A. gets you to Grand Junction, CO. It gets you to a barely passable brewhouse called Landslide where the beer is watery, the ceasar salad tastes like Miracle Whip and the calzone is... well... not the greatest. But from there you can retire to the palacial environs of the Roadway Inn. Thankfully the toilet has a strong flush and the heater works.

Tomorrow we depart again, this time for the ice climbing! This will tax us all I'm sure, but at least I will be able to feel my ass - we are only an hour and a half from the desired location, no more sitting for indefinete stretches with fleeting glipses of places you would rather be.

Everything else being equal, we did get to see some amazing geology today. The land outside Zion is quite remarkable and I hope to return soon to amble about with a tent on my back.

The wireless connection we have is spotty to be kind, so I must allow the owner of this compouter to check his email now. (Not to mention the connection is so slow I fear running spell check!)

Wishing Rich and Wendie the best on thier own Colorado adventure,

Christopher

PS: The 4.0 beer curse that is called Utah being broken is about the best thing I can currently say about Grand Junction. I'm sure the town is nice in the day, but mindlessly driving about at night... aint.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Vacation from L.A. for some...

Well, I've invited the rest of the Mild Bunch to become authors on the blog, hopefully they take me up on it. I'm off to Ouray Colorado to do some ice climbing at the Ouray Ice Park!

Be gone a week, so I hope to find at least one titillating missive from one of my trail mates upon returning. 

Maybe Chuck will regale us of his 'training hikes' late at night while trying to rescue some damsel in distress. Maybe Russ has a moment to share his insights on any number of the shiny things currently distracting him. And though he too will be in Colorado (skiing down the hills, not hacking up them with crampons!), maybe Rich can use that fancy pants phone of his to contribute a trip report. Who knows?

See you all in a week - we are sure to have some rad pics us on the gnar!

Christopher

Friday, January 21, 2011

Walk down memory lane...

So, no to toot my own horn here, but just over a year ago two goofy kids came walking into the REI I used to work at. I, being the resident Geek In Charge Of All Things Geek, took an immediate liking to these guys. I asked them where they were going and they replied "We're going to hike the John Muir Trail!"

They were looking at $5 disposable rain ponchos.

I flatly stated "Really. You're going to hike the JMT huh?"

They gave me a helpless look of bewilderment. We talked for quite some time about the massive amount of gear they planned to take, the choice of footwear, food, shelter and all the rest. It became apparent to me that some sort of intervention was needed.

"The JMT huh... I don't think so. I know where you're going..."

Another blank, incredulous stare greeted me.

"No, I know where you are going... You're GOING TO DIE!"

And thus began a very deeply superficial relationship between customer and merchant. One marred with serious conversation, discussion of bio-mechanics and foot type, caloric intake and why Gore-Tex is the hands down winner for waterproof garments. It lasted up until a week before they departed when I bade them farewell for the last time, much the way a proud father might do as he sees his daughter off to war. 

God I wish I could remember half of the shit we talked about now.

Anyway - after trials involving misfired stoves, horribly mangled hands, epic training hikes and general oversight, they made it. All 211 miles of trail. They lost a lot of weight, gained a lot of insight and had an adventure that will be remembered for years to come as they settle into their chosen paths.

Something I too hope to attain.

But God I wish I remembered half the shit we talked on those rarefied evenings, when 3 like minds came together to annoy each other with opinion. It would help a lot now that I too am embarking on a similar journey.

Have a look at their blog about the ordeal HERE  The link of course starts with a couple of posts that mention me, their favorite REI employee... not always in a complementary tone!

Christopher

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Huh. Web-Log. Blog. Huh.

Yes, well... how did we lose the W from Web-Log to get the name Blog?

Pocket Monster = Pokemon.

Now I get it.

Need to figure out how to post pictures next. Then how to share training hike data. Can't forget to give the other guys access to post - do I trust them with my log on ID?

Yes, I guess I have to. They will be my companions for over 3 weeks in the woods soon.

Picture Upload - check!


Christopher at the top of  Ice House Canyon - Mt Baldy area - Christmas, 2010

For my first "Training Hike" we decided to hump up Ice House Canyon. I carried a full on winter mountaineering rig, complete with snowshoes, cramp-ons, ice axes and extra insulating layers - none of which we needed. It was a great hike though, one I intended to repeat soon.

More to come - Cali, Laurianne and I shared a great day with Chuck on the Mt. Zion loop a couple of weeks ago, maybe more prepping for the trip to Ouray to do some ice climbing, but it all goes into the same fitness well anyway...

See you soon,

Christopher

First entry - January 20, 2011

So Wendie suggested we get a blog to update people on our lack of fitness, confusion as to what type of food protection will be needed, consternation as to why there is no freeze dried beer available and other obvious things as we prepare to thu-hike the John Muir Trail this coming summer.

Well Wendie, here it is.

We all claim different levels of Out Of Shapeness, we all wonder how the booze will reach us but most importantly, we all look forward to taking that first step out of Yosemite Valley this coming July. Look forward to you, Cali, Sarah and other well wishers as you take one last look at your over weight adventurers as they lay boot to soil and set off into the 'unknown'.


I can only speak for myself, but the dreams of shared solitude, fart jokes and awesome vistas have already begun...

Advanced thanks to all who will support us on our Juggernaut - we shall need all we can get!

Christopher