03 November 2009
Decision Confirmed
Apparently making decisions in haste isn't always a bad thing. I just found out that the New York Sports Clubs I was working for is going out of business in December, so I would have been left without a job anyway. I guess life rewards those who chase their passions...that or I just got incredibly lucky...
02 November 2009
Back to the New
The New River Gorge holds a lot of firsts for me. It is the first place I ever went climbing outdoors, the first place I ever climbed on lead, the first climbing festival I ever went to, and after this weekend the first place I flashed a 10a outdoors. When we woke up Friday morning the forecast had taken a turn for the worst, so we didn't get in quite as much climbing as I had hoped, but it was still a fantastic weekend.
Thanks to Chipotle and a detour to some non-existent hot springs we didn't get to Rogers until sunset on Friday, so even though the weather was beautiful the only climbing we got in was a tree at the visitors center. Saturday we headed out to Summersville lake and we were each able to get one climb in before the rain really started to come down. We climbed two more routes in the rain and then scrambled around near the water until we were thoroughly soaked through and ready for some Pies and Pints.
The rain continued to pour all Saturday night so we took our time getting started on Sunday, figuring everything was going to be wet anyway. After consulting Roger we abandoned our plan to go to Bubba City and decided to make for Rico Suave instead since it was the most likely to be dry. We lounged around while we spoiled some stray kittens with a can of tuna and fried up some pancakes with our leftover Halloween candy, then packed up most of our stuff and hiked out along with a group of people from Ohio.
This was definitely one of the best days climbing I've had in a while as far as performance goes. We "warmed up" on Grit & Bear it, a 5.11a with a heinous run out at the top. I had played around on this route last time I was at the new with Kevin and Jen and I was only able to get up to just below the third bolt. I didn't finish it this time, but I got up to the 5th bolt on my first and only try, and I think if I had done it again I would have been able to get to the anchors. It definitely felt good to see some proof of progress and I'm stoked to get back down there and try it again. After a while we switched ropes with our friends from Ohio and we worked Rico Suave, a classic 5.10a, on top rope. By this point the sun had gone past the mountain and we were getting pretty chilly. I struggled a little with cold hands, but managed to flash the route no problem first try and I feel pretty confident that in warmer conditions I could flash it on lead. I finished up the day by running up Cuddle Monkey (5.7) to have a little fun and switch out our anchors. By the end of the day I was feeling pretty stoked, and more than a little sad that we would be leaving that night.
Turns out the climbing gods weren't too happy about us leaving either. We ended up with a flat tire that took 2 hours to change, then we missed our turn and had to go home through Seneca which added another 2.5 hours to our drive. To top it all off we stopped at a Chinese Buffet for dinner that only succeeded in making us all slightly ill. Definitely an epic ride home if there ever was one.
Thanks to Chipotle and a detour to some non-existent hot springs we didn't get to Rogers until sunset on Friday, so even though the weather was beautiful the only climbing we got in was a tree at the visitors center. Saturday we headed out to Summersville lake and we were each able to get one climb in before the rain really started to come down. We climbed two more routes in the rain and then scrambled around near the water until we were thoroughly soaked through and ready for some Pies and Pints.
The rain continued to pour all Saturday night so we took our time getting started on Sunday, figuring everything was going to be wet anyway. After consulting Roger we abandoned our plan to go to Bubba City and decided to make for Rico Suave instead since it was the most likely to be dry. We lounged around while we spoiled some stray kittens with a can of tuna and fried up some pancakes with our leftover Halloween candy, then packed up most of our stuff and hiked out along with a group of people from Ohio.
This was definitely one of the best days climbing I've had in a while as far as performance goes. We "warmed up" on Grit & Bear it, a 5.11a with a heinous run out at the top. I had played around on this route last time I was at the new with Kevin and Jen and I was only able to get up to just below the third bolt. I didn't finish it this time, but I got up to the 5th bolt on my first and only try, and I think if I had done it again I would have been able to get to the anchors. It definitely felt good to see some proof of progress and I'm stoked to get back down there and try it again. After a while we switched ropes with our friends from Ohio and we worked Rico Suave, a classic 5.10a, on top rope. By this point the sun had gone past the mountain and we were getting pretty chilly. I struggled a little with cold hands, but managed to flash the route no problem first try and I feel pretty confident that in warmer conditions I could flash it on lead. I finished up the day by running up Cuddle Monkey (5.7) to have a little fun and switch out our anchors. By the end of the day I was feeling pretty stoked, and more than a little sad that we would be leaving that night.
Turns out the climbing gods weren't too happy about us leaving either. We ended up with a flat tire that took 2 hours to change, then we missed our turn and had to go home through Seneca which added another 2.5 hours to our drive. To top it all off we stopped at a Chinese Buffet for dinner that only succeeded in making us all slightly ill. Definitely an epic ride home if there ever was one.
29 October 2009
Happy Halloween!
I think this year's pumpkin is rather fitting considering this is what I'll be doing on the 31st! Headed to New River tomorrow with Regina and Scott.
28 October 2009
Passion Before Paycheck
I love spontaneity on a daily level, but when it comes to big decisions I’m a serious over thinker. I like to weigh all of my options, look at the pros and cons and sleep on it…preferably for several nights. Even shopping, a seemingly simple task for most Americans, is a highly calculated process for me. No matter how small the price tag I will carry the object in question around the store with me for at least 20 minutes trying to justify the purchase, and I’ll most likely end up putting it back. I have long since come to terms with my glacial paced decision making process…which is why I am slightly surprised to find myself blogging from my new room in Stafford, Virginia. Let me rewind...
Last week I had an epiphany. I realized that not only was I not making any money, I was also absolutely miserable. It wasn’t all bad…I liked my coworkers and I genuinely enjoyed getting to know some of the regulars…but to be honest most of the time whenever I thought about work I got slightly ill. I promised myself a few years back that I would never stay in a job I hated just because it paid well, and I would never turn down a job I loved just because it didn’t pay a lot. So it seems that what to do about a low-paying job that I hated would be a no brainer. Of course you just can’t up and quit a job without having some sort of alternative plan, and finding someone willing to hire me knowing I was leaving with the Peace Corps and needed two weeks off at Christmas would be nearly impossible. So I called a friend in Virginia who owns a security company to see if he had any temporary work available, and as soon as he said he could help me out I up and quit my job. I wish I had dramatically walked out of the gym never to return, but in reality I gave them my weeks notice and quietly finished out a few more shifts. No sense in burning any bridges.
Last Saturday I packed everything I would need to live for the next four months into my car and said goodbye toNew Jersey
Either way, look for some interesting updates in the future as I figure out what I’m actually doing here. As a side note I made an interesting observation as I was packing. My trunk and backseat are full of climbing and camping gear, and all of my clothes fit into a milk crate. What does that say about me?
Last week I had an epiphany. I realized that not only was I not making any money, I was also absolutely miserable. It wasn’t all bad…I liked my coworkers and I genuinely enjoyed getting to know some of the regulars…but to be honest most of the time whenever I thought about work I got slightly ill. I promised myself a few years back that I would never stay in a job I hated just because it paid well, and I would never turn down a job I loved just because it didn’t pay a lot. So it seems that what to do about a low-paying job that I hated would be a no brainer. Of course you just can’t up and quit a job without having some sort of alternative plan, and finding someone willing to hire me knowing I was leaving with the Peace Corps and needed two weeks off at Christmas would be nearly impossible. So I called a friend in Virginia who owns a security company to see if he had any temporary work available, and as soon as he said he could help me out I up and quit my job. I wish I had dramatically walked out of the gym never to return, but in reality I gave them my weeks notice and quietly finished out a few more shifts. No sense in burning any bridges.
Last Saturday I packed everything I would need to live for the next four months into my car and said goodbye to
Either way, look for some interesting updates in the future as I figure out what I’m actually doing here. As a side note I made an interesting observation as I was packing. My trunk and backseat are full of climbing and camping gear, and all of my clothes fit into a milk crate. What does that say about me?
07 October 2009
Seneca in Pictures
This weekend I got out to do a little climbing at Seneca Rocks, WV with Regina, Scott and Dave. I figured rather than bore you with words I would post the best pictures from the weekend (click to enlarge). Here goes...
"Seneca Slop": carrots, potatos, 2 types of baked beans,
spaghetti sauce and 3 packets of chunk tuna. Heat in
tin foil bowl on open flame and serve over spaghetti.
Scott crushing it on The Threat (5.11d?)
I made it to a hare lower than where he is
in this picture, which pleasantly surprised me.
"Seneca Slop": carrots, potatos, 2 types of baked beans,
spaghetti sauce and 3 packets of chunk tuna. Heat in
tin foil bowl on open flame and serve over spaghetti.
Scott crushing it on The Threat (5.11d?)
I made it to a hare lower than where he is
in this picture, which pleasantly surprised me.
28 September 2009
Ringing Rocks Park
Today I made a little side trip on the way home from dropping Jen and Kevin off at the Airport in Philly. I figured while I was over there I might as well make use of my $4 toll and spend a few hours at Ringing Rocks Park in Pottstown, PA. It's basically a seven acre open space covered 10 feet think in big boulders, and when you hit them just right they ring like bells. Don't believe me? Check out this video:
When you strike the rock it creates a series of tones at frequencies lower that the human ear can hear, but when they interact with each other it creates a sound high-pitched enough to be audible. We know how they ring, but no one really knows why. Scientists suspect it has something to do with stress within the rocks.
I was secretly hoping to find something large enough to boulder, but since all the big rocks are half buried by smaller ones nothing really has any decent height to it. The only thing I found was a little three move problem that was easy even for me in tennis shoes. Still I managed to entertain myself with a little rock hopping and I discovered some features on my camera to take a few cool pictures. Mostly I just relaxed in the sun until the clouds rolled back in and forced me home.
When you strike the rock it creates a series of tones at frequencies lower that the human ear can hear, but when they interact with each other it creates a sound high-pitched enough to be audible. We know how they ring, but no one really knows why. Scientists suspect it has something to do with stress within the rocks.
I was secretly hoping to find something large enough to boulder, but since all the big rocks are half buried by smaller ones nothing really has any decent height to it. The only thing I found was a little three move problem that was easy even for me in tennis shoes. Still I managed to entertain myself with a little rock hopping and I discovered some features on my camera to take a few cool pictures. Mostly I just relaxed in the sun until the clouds rolled back in and forced me home.
24 September 2009
Sew...a needle pulling thread
My mom tried to teach me to sew when I was younger, but I just didn't have the patience for it back then. Now that I'm older and (slightly) more patient, I figured it was time to give it another go. I'd love to make my own clothes someday, but I decided it was best to start with something a little simpler, so I've got enough different kinds of fabric to make 8 copies of what my friend Jess calls my "hippie bag." Being a perfectionist means it takes me about 10x longer to make it than it would your average sweatshop worker, but the idea of owning something not manufactured in China or India is worth it. I'm taking this one down to DC with me tonight as a present for Regina, but keep it on the down low...its a surprise!
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