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September 29, 2010

petit.grepon


there is too much outdoor terminology thrown around in improper ways. thus making for awry statements with said terms. so keeping this straight accurate: this past weekend was spent in incredible scenery with optimal temperature, chill company, solid rock to hold onto and soaring heights to ascend. all i know is, to climb mountains [with 70m ropes, an ice axe, a rack of trad gear, draws and slings, top rope setup, crampons or which ever your medium] is to make decisions on where to go next, when to rope up, when to belay, whether to rappel or down climb, whether to turn around or push on.

mostly it's about adjusting and in more cases than not, anticipating change.

so we set off for rocky mountain national park on saturday afternoon. much to our surprise it was FREE day at ALL national parks in the ENTIRE nation. all we could do was laugh as we were swamped with tourist bouncing around estes park and on into rocky mtn. we hiked the 5 miles in whilst admiring the golden aspens dancing above us. you couldn't ask for more in a hike like this: perfectly graveled, a waterfall for looksies, people staring you down for carrying a mondo backpack, 65 degrees of splendid blue rockie skies. content we were.
the climb we planned to conquer was the petit grepon, rising around 12,000 feet of soaring glory. it's funny because as you get above tree line, which happens easily around here, the decor of the mountainside becomes quite barren and gray-ish. this is fine. there is something beautiful and pure when the peaks are exposed and left to answer to the most extremes of mother nature. one can see for miles when you are above tree line with a varying view in every which way. we, however were mostly focused with the next 6 feet above our hands and the very texture in front of our eyes. i can barely explain the surge of energy running through your heart as you clamber up the vertical slab. i can raise my heart rate just thinking about it. there is something about alpine climbs that do this. the lack of green vegetation which is usually hustling around you, the quick notice when you nick a rock over the edge and see it waver in the wind or realizing you are merely a morsel in these mountains and they have free range to toss you around. yes, perhaps those are a few of the notions why i|you|anyone would notice and desire to float to such places to rise to such heights, to push limits and at times look fear square the face.
now if only i could lead traditional style climbing. |sigh|. soon, very soon.

well as it goes, we climbed longer than expected, rappelled in the darkness and hiked out with the moon as our guide and stars our map. i've gotten better at this whole being prepared for most anything sort of mentality as it's only taken me two years. the magic lies in what is unexpected and welcomed. a lesson learned from this trip: safety is still the root of it all and there is always time for a picture.


{a view to the east}


September 10, 2010

}hut-hut{


like i've said in the past, these three day weekends bring so much opportunity when there is only a stint of compiled time to bust outta this place. your place, my place, whomsoever's place it might be or what they/me/you are busting out of really doesn't matter. it's the feeling of fighting for the weekends to breathe mountain air deep into our lungs and stretch across trails of rock to feed our step with a little hop. so i think if we keep our head up and our arms out, we may never know what may fall into our life.

a few months ago, my adventuresome soul sister and i devised a plan. a plan to invite any and all denverites interested and longing to feel the freedom of what the outside realm can offer them, along with us. this can take place in a slew of ways. the biggest plight is making a decision on where to run away to as there are so many options [not a bad dilemma if you ask me]. the other weekend it was a secluded hut deep into the mt. holy cross wilderness area. her and i, along with 16 of our closest and new-ish friends set off. we backpacked in all that would be necessary for a two night three day excursion of mountain living, though to shelter and keep us close we added a rather large hut. we cooked and ate gourmet meals, had an impressive turn out of hiked in yummy beverages, slept wide eyed under the starry night, watched sweet sunsets up top the roof, heated up some logs and danced around a bonfire, all this in the name of laughter. labor day weekend two thousand and ten was a beautiful mess.
*a winter hut trip will be in the works soon :)


[from the roof]

[from the trail]