So I had this great intro written where I went thru the Rock & Ice letter to John Long and my intent to update the site, but after emailing everyone that intro is slightly underwhelming. Just pretend that first sentence was eloquent and we’ll be good.
Remember bouldering at krag and not wanting to do any roped climbing? It’s pretty comical looking back on those days. From there it was not wanting to do “tall” routes at the red (or coming back from those with bashed up knees). That too came and gone. Well, at least the fear for those tall routes, there’s no way to be sure about the patented knee-to-mantle move you’ve made for yourself. It only took a few trips to the red to get you hooked, and somehow you wanted to join us in Colorado for some post ultimate climbing.
This is probably where my intro and skills as a climbing partner begin to coincide with a reoccurring theme: underwhelming. At lily lake we were cruising up some granite, more than slightly unaware the afternoon thunderstorm was rolling in. By the time you tied in and started up the low angle friction route, water was running down the route. I think we ended up leaving 3 draws (super embarrassing). In one of the episodes, Kalous talks about gumbies leaving gear in that area back in his guiding days, and I can only hope someone as cool ended up with our gear.
Now that you had conquered roped climbing inside and outside (when water isn’t rushing down the wall), I vaguely recall you mentioning having no desire to take this climbing thing any higher. No way multiple pitches would be in your future… This is going to sound repetitive, but isn’t it pretty comical looking back on those days?
Between a few more trips to the red we end up in El Potrero Chico. Maybe this multi-pitch thing is going to come to fruition after all. This will be the next repetitive section, but this time as it pertains to me being an underwhelming partner and doing a less than stellar job of teeing you up for success. How was that 5.6 roof on Jungle Boy? Or was that Warfikis? Next time I promise I’ll take a better look at the guidebook. Oh wait, fast forward to Necedah. You want to hop on that 5.6 trad route? It looks like it must have been retro-bolted or something because there are a handful of bolts….
Thank you for turning the corner and evolving from baby bird to the rope gun, despite my apparent attempts to mess with those opportunities. Also thank you for hauling me up Air, and putting up all the routes I was too terrified to set, and for convincing me to hop on RBG. I needed that route more than you know going into the shoulder surgery. Looking forward to bouncing back and following more tall easy things you set.
Go Packers,
Fudge
Ps, aren’t you glad I made it all the way thru that without mentioning driving over the metal rod and shredding Samwel's oil pan?