Some Colorado Love

I must say I have been having a blast visiting Colorado.  I wasn't stoked on having to return just to get my car registration renewed.  I thought it was going to feel mundane and as if my trip hadn't started.  I was completely wrong and have loved every second of being here.  I have had the chance to climb in the high country both Rocky Mountain National Park and Mt Evans and hit some front range favorites.  I have been doing a lot of bouldering and some sport climbing.  Yesterday was a great day at Dream Canyon even though it ended with a thunder storm.  I got worked on some 5.11c and 5.11d, but enjoyed it. The time spent climbing and the time spent with great friends here in CO has been a wonderful addition to my trip.  I will be here for two more full days before moving on with my trip.  Today is a rest day, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will be filled with climbing.  By the time I leave I will have climbed 11 out of the 14 days of being in CO.  By the time the month ends I will have climbed at least 21 days out of the 30 days in the month of June.  I think that is a good start!
To my Colorado friends (climbing and non climbing friends) thank you for all the love and generosity it has made me feel special!  Know if you wanna join me at any part i'll pick you up and drop you off where ever and of course some day when I do have a home not on 4 wheels you are all welcome to stay with me whenever you need a place. (Hopefully it will be somewhere rad)

I will start to make my way out to Portland on Thursday.  I may stop in Salt Lake, will for sure be visiting Tahoe and then up to Portland to meet up with Scott and head to Squamish on the 3rd of July!  I cannot wait to be in Squamish I originally was planning to take a climbing trip there this summer, before the idea for climbing for a year happened.  I plan to climb tall routes, boulder, sport, and get on some trad.

Loving this adventure and all the positive vibes and people it has brought into my life.

Getting my belay on...belaying Scott on 5.11d

Cube Boulder RMNP

Dream Canyon

Huge Dandelion 

Jeremy Leading 5.11d

After spending a night at Joe's Valley getting swarmed by nats I decided it was no fun to camp there.  I awoke went climbing for a bit, brought Bodi to the reservoir and headed out.  I had thought about heading to Red Cliff, but when I looked up the weather it said cold and possibly rainy, which is not what I wanted.  I started searching for other locations and all were going to be way to hot and no shade.  I went on and checked the weather for Red Cliff one more time and it was going to be upper 80s and sunny.  Sounded perfect.  I got to Red Cliff around 4:30 not sure where I was going to camp.  However, I have camped at Kluttergarden before (the bouldering area) and figured if I needed to I could again.  I went bouldering for a bit and ended up meeting a couple who were camping in disperse camping and filled me in on where to go.  I ended up with a sweet little spot on a hill over looking the river and even some snow covered mountains in the background.  This would be the first time I have really camped by myself.  It was absolutely wonderful.  I could not believe how great I felt the whole time out.  I woke Wednesday morning cooked breakfast for Bodi and I.  Enjoyed my coffee and started to write.  Then I did some yoga in my cozyorange gear, played fetch with Bodi, went climbing in the evening.  It was so nice not to consider anyone else's plans and just do what I wanted.  The experience was very empowering and uplifting.  I learned a lot about myself.  I also kept asking why I had never camped alone till I was 28 years old!  It will become an annual trip for me.  Now I know why my good friend Tracy always does an annual camping trip just her and her dog.  Thursday morning I woke up and headed to Denver.  Got to spend the day with a great friend go to a pool party that makes me think Denver has some style. Check it out
                                                      http://www.taxibyzeppelin.com
 All reclaimed materials...gave a Brooklyn feel to a run down part of Denver.  The pool was an old freight shipping container lined and a deck built up around it.  Very cool.  After the dip in the pool some good food and wine I headed to another friend's to crash. Climbed this morning and am about to head back out to climb with some more friends.  I am so grateful for all the welcoming people I know and meet.  I can't wait to continue this adventure and continue to find myself in new situations.  I must say the moments of not knowing where I was going next and knowing I would just be by myself were the moments I feared the most before this trip began.  Now I have experienced it and realized those days will be just as wonderful as the days I am with new and old friends.

7th day of climbing at City of Rocks...cozyorange gear

Yoga at camp in more cozyorange clothing

View from Campsite

Camp

Bodi hanging at camp off leash loving life

Joe's Valley Reservoir

Joe's Valley

A great Start

I have been on the road for a week and a half now and have met some amazing people already.  I started in City of Rocks climbed 8 days straight all day.  First I met Tori, Susie, and James all great people and very welcoming.  Tori and Susie are badasses leading run out trad and just so much fun to climb with.  James was great with critiquing my gear placements so I can begin to have more confidence leading on gear.  Tori then introduced me to her friend Alex and his two friends Anga and Ken.  Again a great group to climb with.  Also so welcoming as they opened up their place in Salt Lake to me.  I am stoked to climb with all of them again on my trip.  I am now heading to Joe's Valley Utah for some bouldering and free camping.  Was planning on going to Moab but 103 temps might be to much for Bodi so I may be heading back to CO a little earlier than planned.  

I did lead that 5.7 crack on gear to the 5.9 bolted sport.  I also led a 5.10 sport and another 5.6 longer trad climb.  I am pretty happy that I had the confidence to lead on gear.  (Not sure why my pictures are not coming up the right direction and I can't seem to rotate them. Sorry!)

5.7 trad crack to 5.9 sport lead

City of Rocks at sunset

Climbing across from Alta

Rad formation at City of Rocks

I officially headed out to City of Rocks ID on Sat June 1st.  It was an uneventful drive just how I like!  We have been climbing the past 3 days lots of trad and some sport. I led a 10a sport climb, practiced placing gear on a real easy crack and plan to lead a 5.7 crack that turns into a 5.9 sport climb at the end.  I am climbing with great people and two bad ass women climbers.  My plan is to stay here till Sunday or Monday then head to Joe's Valley Utah for some early morning and late evening climbing to avoid the heat.  Anyone want to go for a few days hit me up i'll have service Sunday or Monday.  Sorry so short, but I only have internet for 20 mins :)