It’s been a while since I’ve sat down to write, so I have some catching up to do.
We spent the first weekend in June at a paintball tournament in Oklahoma City. On Friday morning, we caravanned behind Damian and Caitlin from Bentonville, AK. We spent the day setting up the fields for the competitions that would take place in the following days. This required moving and inflating “bunkers” which are large barriers of various shapes and sizes. Each side must have the same number, type, and exact placement in order for an even playing field. The winning team of the D4 and D5 tournaments were awarded a generous cash prize and therefore the fields needed to be regulation. Although this work was not terribly physically demanding, the 100 degree temperatures and blisteringly hot sun made for a long day. We wrapped up the last of the setup as the sun set. This brought a cool relief along with some time to play spikeball and relax around a nice fire.
The games were scheduled to start at 9 on Saturday morning in hopes to beat the heat. Tom and I played on “The Sugar Plums”, which is designated for beginners. We had 5 team members that rotated through 3 on 3 player matches. Each game was limited to 3 minutes but were typically much shorter. It became apparent very quickly that we were up against some stiff competition. Out of 11 rounds, we had only one victory. Our inferior aim and overall strategic skill was what led to our inevitable demise. Nonetheless, we enjoyed putting forth our best effort and walked away with minimal battle wounds. As the day became later, the temperatures rose. We made every effort to drink plenty of water and stay out of direct sunlight. By late afternoon, we were both drained and decided it would be best to get some miles underneath us. Once packed, we showered off with the communal hose and said our goodbyes. Our next destination was Denver, CO, which was a 10 hour drive from Oklahoma City. Feeling tired and unmotivated, we assumed that we’d drive a couple hours before calling it a night. Nearly 6 hours later we were riding the undulating waves of second winds and pure exhaustion. I had hit my wall and was thirsty for the sleep that would come once we reached the next rest stop. To our dismay, it was closed, forcing us to drive another 30 miles to the next one. It wasn’t long after we pulled in before we were in our bed and fast asleep.
On Sunday morning we woke up refreshed and ready to make the final 3 hour trek to Denver. Feeling accustom to our normal, middle of nowhere, privacy, I peed on the ground right outside the truck. At that very moment, a maintenance worker drove his riding lawn mower just passed where I was squatting. Although I am confident that he saw me, he was kind enough to keep his gaze fixed forward, avoiding the awkward confrontation. Once on the road, the length of a podcast and a couple crosswords, landed us in Denver. We were invited to have lunch at Allison’s cousins house where we were blessed with an incredible spread. That night, we drove to Fort Collin’s where we planned to spend the next day climbing. We encountered our first free campsite that was a total dud. We drove way out of the way to find a small parking lot off the road surrounded by a cow pasture. Initially irritated by the inconvenience we were reminded that this was all part of the adventure. We backtracked to Poudre Canyon, our rock climbing destination, and found a trailhead where we spent the night. Our buddy Nate moved to Denver recently and met us in the canyon. It was good catching up with him and hearing about his experiences in a new city. There was one other individual spending the night where we were camped. Her name was Dakshina and she was an environmentalist studying the bird population in the area. She had a seat with us and shared really good conversation about work, life and remarkable experiences.
Tom, Nate and I had our climbing location already set for the next morning, giving us false hope that we would find it without a hitch. As with most climbing expeditions, that was not the case. We pulled up to the area where we were meant to cross the river in order to reach the path that would lead us to our destination. High waters due to snow melt were not only frigid, but also intimidating. Large boulders disturbed the heavy flow creating unpredictable currents. We decided that crossing wasn’t worth the risk and chose to look for a different spot to climb. Not far down the road, we began hiking up a steep face that lead to another climbing wall. The directions said that the path wasn’t well traveled, but that cairns would guide our 20 minute trek straight to the wall. Not only did it take us an hour and 45 minutes (with short breaks) but there were sections that made us question whether to continue up or not. It took everything inside me to keep a good attitude and have fun. “No one is forcing you to do this, you quit your job, remember?” This was the dialogue occurring in my head with each uneasy and tiring step. Once we made it to the top, we found a really fun climb that served as a reward for the sketchy approach. The descent went faster, but was equally as challenging. There were a few sections where Tom and I had to assist Mogli due to the steep, blank faced rocks. Once completed, we were definitely beat up, but were pleased that we completed it. Our sore muscles thanked us as we stepped into the icy river water at the base of the canyon. From there, we hugged Nate goodbye and started toward Cheyenne, WY. Joseph was expecting us around dinner time, and prepared for us a room and delicious meal. Michael also arrived that night, making a pit stop on his drive to Seattle. We were both grateful to spend time with family, playing games and hearing about each other’s lives. After Joseph and Jessy hit the sack, Michael, Tom and I biked to a nearby watering hole. There, we played a couple games of pool and got a taste of the local feel.
Our time spent in Cheyenne was relaxing and enjoyable. Our second day there was the last day of school, so once the kids were let out, we visited Joseph and got a tour of the school and his classroom. It was great getting to see more of his life and the job that he not only loves, but also does so well. He shared stories about various students throughout the year and and gave us an idea of their daily routine. Afterwards, we rode our bikes to a frisbee golf course, where we played a tough 18 holes. The grass on the fairways was long and thick, making finding our discs a bit of a task. That night, we ate a delicious Thai dinner and played games. Kat arrived from Kansas City the next afternoon, shortly after we met Joseph for lunch. It was his last official school day, which he spent completing end of the year wrap up. We had spent the morning reading and playing the guitar before going for a run/bike ride around Cheyenne. It was our only night with all 6 of us together, since Michael and Kat were leaving Friday for Arco, ID. After saying our goodbyes the next morning, Tom and I headed for Vedauawoo which is an hour west of Cheyenne. It is a beautiful area with a lot of fun sport climbing. The rock formations are unlike anything else I have seen. They look like stacks of rounded faces staggered throughout the land. We drove back to Joseph’s to spend one more night before heading back to Colorado.
On Friday we left for Boulder, CO where we were meeting Kris and Allison to camp and climb. We spent the night at a beautiful campsite in the Roosevelt National Forest. On Saturday morning we readied ourselves to climb and decided on a location. We were right outside of Boulder Canyon, which has extensive climbing on either side of it’s 12 mile stretch. Kris and Allison had plans in the evening, so they headed back to Denver in the afternoon. Once they left, Tom and I walked further down the wall in search of our final climb. In order to reach the area we were looking for, we had to walk through the river. Although our path downstream, the water was moving quick enough to make us both step carefully. In an effort to spend minimal time in the frigid water, I shot the most direct line. Tom took a more cautious route, staying in more shallow water and on high rocks. Mogli effortlessly followed Tom until the very last section, which was deep enough to require paddling perpendicular to the current. Appearing apprehensive, I made my way back into the water to assist him. As I grabbed his collar to pull him through to the calm water on the other side, his weight along with the rushing water, tested my readied stance. Before I knew it, my balance surrendered, sending myself and my gear for a cold plunge. The whole situation gave Tom and I a good laugh. Allison’s cousin had gifted us handmade pasta and the ingredients for a quick sauce. We whipped it up for dinner that night, savoring each flavorful bite. It was by far the best camping meal yet.
We spent the next 4 days in that area, climbing at various spots. Within those days, we experienced many highlights. On Sunday we climbed: “Free Willy”, an 11a with really fun moves. On Monday, we jumped on our first 12a of the trip. Although it kicked both of our butts, we were both proud to finish it. On Tuesday, we went for our first legitimate, mountain bike ride. The campgrounds we were staying in had renowned single track bike trails that were both physically demanding and technically challenging. The hour long ride was filled with moments of fear, adrenaline and pure enjoyment. Wednesday was bitter-sweet. It was our last day climbing in Boulder Canyon, making us appreciate our time spent there, but also feeling the tole that it had on our bodies. Majority of the time spent on the wall that day was frustratingly painful. Our fingers had been stripped of their protective calluses, making each move on small, sharp rock, excruciating. We each worked to keep each other's spirits high and push through the moments of irritation and discomfort. As we drove out of the canyon, we reveled in our accomplishments and the relief of being done.
Thanks to Kris and Allison’s hospitality, our clothes are clean and Mogli has a babysitter. Minneapolis here we come.
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