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.
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}
