After coming back from Colorado you practically forced us into the gym. I had been to Urban Krag but it was years ago in scouts, skittling our way up the walls as quickly as possible. That was different, bringing together Tim and Esteban you got us hooked. A bouldering session immediately followed by our preferred recovery method: wrapping our hands around a cold beer, fingers intertwined taking in as much contact to the glass as possible.
Naturally our conversations progressed from bouldering sessions to other gyms, then to the topic of taking this venture outside. We started leading, gripped as hell but still certifying. From there we picked up some draws and got comfortable enough at Scioto and John Bryan to start thinking about the red.
Before long we were calling off work and heading down to a cabin at Lago Linda. Not many people stayed back there those days. Not many people at the red really at all. As gumbies strolling into Muir we didn’t wait for anything back then. Still brings a smile thinking about it today.
Both our first leads were Mona Lisa Crack, wonderful movement on those iron ore lips making our way up the guide wall. No doubt in my mind that this trip was fueling the budding fire. Knowing you weren’t incredibly fond of tying in, we made our next trip a little further south, and a little lower to the ground at Stone Fort. You always kicked the shit out of me bouldering, and this trip put two problems on a longer term stage for us: Mario and art of vogi. We made it too the crimps on mario, but not to the knee bar. The big moves on bigger holds made vogi seem possible, till we hit those sloper loaves trying to get over the lip. We returned a couple years later, but throwing ourselves so hard at Mario that first day the climbing was shot for that trip. Maybe next time the margs will sit a little better as well. Or maybe they won’t.
I know time is off now but the stoke can’t be slowed. When you were in Fort Collins Sara and I came out and managed to knock out problems at Horsetooth and a handful of routes in Estes, the monastery, and Poudre Canyon. Those were great trips man, and thanks for having the stones to actually make the cross country move. I’m having enough trouble trying to get down to the red for a longer stint, hopefully that doesn’t remain a pipedream.
We’re less than two hours apart, but at times it feels so significant, it’s just wild how quickly time passes and priorities evolve over that time. We’ve said it out loud before, but we better fucking top out Mario and vogi man. Last time I got into the knee bar, but not the move out of it. Next time I’ma get it, and I can only hope it’s right after you fire it. Hope the house is coming along well man.
Tiny
Ps, try to stay out of any “do or die shit”