Livia was nice enough to let us stay at her place on Friday, Kuzca included. It's difficult to find a place to stay that won't mind a 70 pound furry monster. Thank you Livia for tolerating us. It saved us from having to get up super early on Saturday and it also gave us our first opportunity to meet Ti-Fou. I'm pro.
As we were grabbing a few items out of the car at Livia's, we came to a terrible realization. We had packed up our gear in plastic bins, and the bin that contained our tent was still sitting on the basement floor. Whoops! It's great to have friends with gear, because within a few minutes we got in touch with John B and he had an extra tent to bring.
Saturday morning we drove out to Shelf road and started with a 5.8 climb. This was only my second time climbing this season and the first time outdoors. It felt awkward, but it was fun to be out on the rock. Nearby, Ti-Fou and another Canadian climber celebrated Canada Day by double-teaming the lead on a 5.11. Once the toprope was set up on the 5.11, Christine flexed her muscles and scurried up it. It was awesome. Later we moved to a different spot and climbed a fun 5.9 overhang. The beginning was the tough part of the climb, and once again Christine kicked its butt. Once she showed me how it was done, I had a go at it too and managed to make it to the top.
Since we were car camping, Christine and I tried to think of something ridiculous to bring that we would never take on our normal camping trips. The winner: Croquet. Christine had a Croquet set, and it turned out to be a big hit. Even though it rained for a few hours after we got done climbing, we still had a lot of fun drinking, playing croquet, and just screwing around in general.
After a lazy start on Sunday we hiked down to a different wall. This time Christine and I only got one route in before some bad weather came in. It was a 5.8 with some really fun layback moves along a crack.
One long ride home in holiday traffic followed by some unpacking and a doggie bath and we were ready for bed. It was a great way the spend the beginning of the long weekend.
Christine climbing the 5.11
Ti-Fou working hard.
A look at Shelf Road. Dad - this may look familiar. It's the road between Cripple Creek and Canon City that we drove a long time ago I think. You should dig out those pictures.
Kuzca kicking back (and keepin dry) in Livia's Element with some box wine and a cigar.
Livia and John - croquet pros
FUN! gave me some veritgo just lookin'... :)
ReplyDeleteThis was SO much fun.
ReplyDeleteA couple of notes have to be made here, though - the 5.11 that I "scurried up" - well, I scurried up about 2/3 of it. :) Then it kicked my butt.
For the record: It was Livia that made it look like cake. :)
And the fun roof climb that we all did I think was a 5.10a (and I made it look hard, while Ryan made it look easy).
The drunken croquet will likely need a repeat effort at some point, because it was hilarious. The pictures are classic.
I want to climb with you two again! You guys were so fun to climb/camp with. Christine is such a strong climber and it is so fun to be around bad arse women climbers. OK, Ryan doesn't suck either ;)
ReplyDeleteI just downloaded those pics you posted. Croquet rocked. I have the best pictures of the game to add to this collection when I get them off my camera including Christine's celebratory dance and more of the lounging doggie.
More on the rest of our adventures probably tomorrow.