Tuesday November 27th: Tom and I woke up in the Walmart parking lot that we had been banished to the night before. I urgently needed to use the bathroom, so I stripped off my sleeping bag and stepped into my shoes. We left the camper lowered in an effort to avoid attracting unwanted attention, so the only means of exiting was in a crouch. This along with getting down from the camper, verified that the condition of my legs had not improved. Feeling the urgency of my bladder, I made my way across the entirety of the parking lot with a strained gait. With seemingly locked knees, one leg fell in front of the other causing a painful wince. As if my arms could pump my uncooperative half any faster, they swung with the power of a determined speed walker. Realizing the hilarity of the situation, I smiled to myself while avoiding eye-contact with shoppers preparing to park. After utilizing the facilities, I struggled back to the camper where we made breakfast. That afternoon, we stopped into O’reillys to pick up our ordered brake pads and rotors. Tom had changed mine before, and although expecting the truck to be more problematic, had done his research and was up for the challenge. Unfortunately, his optimism was slowly extinguished as one frustration led to another. One removed wheel was all there was to show for two busted tools and relentless man-power. Eventually surrendering to Minnesota’s mean corrosion, Tom reattached the wheel and reluctantly returned our entire purchase. Disappointed but not broken, he left the store with his head held high with the ability to laugh about what had just transpired. That night, we drove to Lovell Canyon where we made delicious fajita bowls for dinner and took it easy.
On Wednesday, we returned to Lower Level, the area in Red Rocks where we climbed our very first day. After completing a few routes, a guy walked up and made a general announcement that he was looking for a climbing parter. Although Tom and I resisted being inconvenienced by a third person, we recognized his predicament and offered for him to join us. Overly grateful, he introduced himself as Mark and didn’t stop talking from there on. We slowly lost patience for his endless chatter, but felt guilty after he explained the reason for it. Unaware of the damage he was inflicting, he made a poor habit of listening to music on full blast while riding his motorcycle. Overtime, this caused damage to his eardrum and has left him with a constant hum that he attempts to drown out with the sound of his own voice. His story quickly put things in perspective and allowed us to better appreciate his company. In spite of the constant provoking in his ear, he lives with an admirable passion and zeal for the gift of each day. After wrapping up the day, we exchanged information and split ways. Tom and I slept in a nearby Home Depot parking lot, where sounds of rain and speeding cars continued throughout the night.
We awoke to a rain-soaked earth on Thursday, immediately convinced that we wouldn’t be climbing. Resorting to completing chores, we started by getting the transmission serviced. After sitting in the auto shop’s lobby for multiple hours, we headed for the laundromat to replenish our clean clothes and play cards. With our list completed, Tom humored me by agreeing to bike while I attempted to run. The weather had finally cleared up after a day of gloomy wet and it felt good to move my legs. Upon returning to the truck, we made some calls back home. While talking to Orionna, she informed me that she was flying into Las Vegas the following day with two friends. Unaware of our location, we were both elated to find that we’d be unexpectedly spending the weekend together. As I hung up, Tom pulled into a Lowe’s parking lot where we hoped to spend the night. I ran in to ask for permission, which was unhesitatingly given. We had popped the camper up, made dinner and settled into bed before someone began insistently rapping on our door. Confused, Tom opened it to find a rotating yellow light atop a small golf cart and two security guards. He kindly greeted them before they stated: “Yeah, we thought you were in there,” as if they had cracked a long unsolved mystery. This seemed like a funny admittance since our presence within the camper seemed more than apparent. They followed by telling us that we needed to move, never breaking their authoritative tone. Telling them that Lowe’s had okayed our residence didn’t change the fact that they wanted us gone. Complying with their request, we packed up and moved to the parking lot of a 24-hour casino, this time leaving the top of our camper down. After seven months of traveling with no such issues, Las Vegas burned us a second time.
We emerged from our dark den of a camper on Friday morning, temporarily blinded by the intensity of the sun. Sobered out of our groggy state, we began driving toward the area that we had planned to climb. After making breakfast and tidying up, we began the short walk to the crag. A passing, fellow climber stopped to inform us that using the rock was not advised. Tom and I were unaware of the recommended drying period for sandstone due to it’s composition. Being porous in property, it holds onto moisture, which compromises the rock’s durability. Since climbing on the rock risked breaking off crucial holds, we listened to the locals and turned around. Both itching to climb, we began driving towards the nearest limestone that we were aware of. It took us an hour and a half to reach Mt. Charleston to find the ground completely covered with snow. A bit put off by the conditions, we carried on, unaware that the worst was yet to come. After wiping the bottom of my shoes on my pant legs, I started up our first route. I delicately made my way up, weary of the slippery streaks of snow melt. Making it to the top offered me a settling relief, but as I was being lowered off, felt as if I had spooked myself more than necessary. Following my secure attempt, Tom approached the rock with a renewed assurance. Not far above the first clip, he pulled up on a small hold that broke without warning. Before either of us knew it, he was hanging directly beside me. With his feet nearly resting on the ground, I lowered him to a standing position. We took a moment to ease ourselves before he was back on the wall. As he stepped above the place where he had last fallen, he reached for a large shelf. Right as he trusted it enough to stand up, it gave away, sending him and a football sized chunk down to the ground. Fortunately, it hit his leg as they fell, missing each of our exposed heads. Staring at the mass that sat at our feet, had us contemplating the less desirable possible outcomes. Our pumping adrenaline and racing hearts made the second instance more difficult to shake. After some time, he mustered the courage to try again, third time being the charm. We climbed one more route, on solid rather than brittle rock, before calling it a day. We walked back to the truck, grateful to be doing so unscathed, thanking our guardian angels for our safety. That night was lighter and much brighter, spent with Orionna on the strip. Our senses were overwhelmed by the crowds, noise and energy. There was something vying for our attention in every direction, easily disorienting two naive travelers. With gaping eyes that stared shamelessly, our faces read that it was our first time in the Sin City.
On Saturday morning we went out to breakfast, starting the day by stuffing our faces. This killed any motivation that we may have had for the next couple of hours. After walking around and spending some time in the hotel room, Tom and I broke off from the group to go climbing. Leaving the city for the peace that’s found in the outdoors was exactly what the two of us needed. We gladly welcomed the fresh air that is suffocated by cigarette smoke and slot machines on the strip. The closing sunlight allowed for only a few climbs before we went back to the camper to make dinner. Fed and feeling refreshed, we made our way back to the hotel before meeting Orionna and her friends out at a bar. We had such a fun time with great people that extended late (my definition, not Tom’s) into the night.
When Orionna woke up on Sunday, she walked the short block between her hotel and our camper to join us for breakfast. The three of us lounged and drank coffee while catching up on each other's lives. After a few hours, we had covered most topics of conversation, still holding cups that were long drained. Needing some physical activity, we headed to the hotel where Tom opted to stay in the room while Orionna and I headed to the gym. Both grateful to get our blood pumping, we talked and laughed while jumping around. That night, Orionna and her friends, Jess and Michelle, ventured to attend a Cirque du Soleil show. Tom and I stayed back and played cards, the less exciting, but more economical option. When they returned, we heard all about the amazing acrobatic performance that they had witnessed, overly impressing and thoroughly entertaining each of them. Tom and I stayed a bit longer, laughing and sharing stories, before heading back to the camper and calling it an early night.
Orionna generously offered to treat us to breakfast on Monday morning as our final hurrah. The five of us went out to a cafe called, eat, where we enjoyed deliciously creative plates. With only a few hours before their flight, we killed some time in the casino. Orionna and I quickly lost our dollars in penny slots before following Tom over to the roulette table. Feeling lucky, he put down the minimum $10 bet, and after one spin, turned it into $38. His adrenaline induced excitement left him noticeably shaky as the dealer slid the handsome earnings in his direction. Wasting no time, he picked up the multiplied stack and headed for the teller. With the casino behind us, we became members of the secret and exclusive society that leaves while ahead. Orionna and Jess packed their things while Tom and I pulled up the truck. With only 3 seats in the cab, they sat up front, while I rode in the camper along with the shifting luggage. After dropping them off at the airport, Tom and I began driving towards Joshua Tree National Park.
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