Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Check this out #3
On this trip, I read the book "The Magus of Java" by Kosta Danaos. The book was filled with interesting stories of China's history as well as subject covered in this old documentary. Quite an enjoyable read if you find yourself without a good book.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Straight 'Outta Squampton
We finally decided to leave Squamish, but we did it cleanly. Our friends Kid and Marie Eve who offered us company, a place to hang, and a shower on more than one occasion lent us a shop vac to spruce up the van and Marie Eve even washed the outside of the van for us! Double Dang!
We then bid our friends farewell and commenced leaving the great country of Canada and headed south down the West Coast. Making it through customs quickly (it's interesting how much faster you get through with a beautiful young lady in the car) we made a much needed stop in Whole Foods Seattle to stock up on the supplies we depleted in Canada.
Then we filled up the van and hit the road to Klamath Beach. On the way, we were very impressed with the Oregon Coast, especially Astoria. Some of you may know that this is where the Goonies House is. And Yes, we did stop and check it out...I mean, come on, it was right off the road, it literally took five minutes! Maybe we took pictures too, and maybe I'll post them for you to see later. Kindergarten Cop was also shot there, but we didn't make the pilgrimage. We did however stop at this awesome breakfast shop that hooked it up with the Eggs Benedict (I'm slightly interested in the obviously dank crepery just down from where I'm currently typing this as well.).
Astoria also boasted many unique stores and art galleries nestled right on the water--one of them even had a Goonies Themed Section--Classic.
Then we drove a half hour down the street for Cannon Beach. Which some of you may recall was where the rocks jutting out of the water fit Mikey's Doubloon in the movie, The Goonies. Yep, we were there, and once again, maybe there are photos...
Finally arriving in Klamath, we hurried down for a short bouldering/exploring session of the famous Lost Rocks on the beach and made it back in time to watch the sun dip into the ocean. Marvelous.
That night, at around 1:50am, we were startled awake as some misfit broke out the window in the car next to us and stole a computer and camera from the vehicle. I feel bad for not getting out in my boxer shorts wielding the 'ole machete, but I figured it wasn't my place to get involved.
The following morning, the Yurok Tribe sent one of their police to the scene to investigate and told us that this is extremely common in the area and also telling us about having guns pulled on you if you go bouldering outside the designated zone set by the Yurok Tribe. Despite some harsh moods laid down in the situation, we risked staying another night to climb on the amazing boulders (photos soon), but luckily we were safeguarded by a large group of super nice Korean kids gambling and playing music in the parking lot all night.
We also met and climbed with a young man named Shawn from Oregon and his golden retriever, Abby. The four of us hiked the entire beach of Lost Rocks, bouldering on every sweet line we passed. This is possibly one of the most unique bouldering areas I have ever been too. Once we get the photos from the camera, we will post some more awesome shots of the bouldering and how the day went from completely clear to completely foggy.
We are now sitting in a coffee shop in Arcata, California, just down from said crepery that is just playing with my imagination.
We then bid our friends farewell and commenced leaving the great country of Canada and headed south down the West Coast. Making it through customs quickly (it's interesting how much faster you get through with a beautiful young lady in the car) we made a much needed stop in Whole Foods Seattle to stock up on the supplies we depleted in Canada.
Then we filled up the van and hit the road to Klamath Beach. On the way, we were very impressed with the Oregon Coast, especially Astoria. Some of you may know that this is where the Goonies House is. And Yes, we did stop and check it out...I mean, come on, it was right off the road, it literally took five minutes! Maybe we took pictures too, and maybe I'll post them for you to see later. Kindergarten Cop was also shot there, but we didn't make the pilgrimage. We did however stop at this awesome breakfast shop that hooked it up with the Eggs Benedict (I'm slightly interested in the obviously dank crepery just down from where I'm currently typing this as well.).
Astoria also boasted many unique stores and art galleries nestled right on the water--one of them even had a Goonies Themed Section--Classic.
Then we drove a half hour down the street for Cannon Beach. Which some of you may recall was where the rocks jutting out of the water fit Mikey's Doubloon in the movie, The Goonies. Yep, we were there, and once again, maybe there are photos...
Finally arriving in Klamath, we hurried down for a short bouldering/exploring session of the famous Lost Rocks on the beach and made it back in time to watch the sun dip into the ocean. Marvelous.
That night, at around 1:50am, we were startled awake as some misfit broke out the window in the car next to us and stole a computer and camera from the vehicle. I feel bad for not getting out in my boxer shorts wielding the 'ole machete, but I figured it wasn't my place to get involved.
The following morning, the Yurok Tribe sent one of their police to the scene to investigate and told us that this is extremely common in the area and also telling us about having guns pulled on you if you go bouldering outside the designated zone set by the Yurok Tribe. Despite some harsh moods laid down in the situation, we risked staying another night to climb on the amazing boulders (photos soon), but luckily we were safeguarded by a large group of super nice Korean kids gambling and playing music in the parking lot all night.
We also met and climbed with a young man named Shawn from Oregon and his golden retriever, Abby. The four of us hiked the entire beach of Lost Rocks, bouldering on every sweet line we passed. This is possibly one of the most unique bouldering areas I have ever been too. Once we get the photos from the camera, we will post some more awesome shots of the bouldering and how the day went from completely clear to completely foggy.
We are now sitting in a coffee shop in Arcata, California, just down from said crepery that is just playing with my imagination.
Shawn and I sessioning a cool dyno problem on the final beach sector of Lost Rocks.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Should We Stay or Should We Go?
We were planning on leaving Squamish yesterday...but we didn't.
Instead we aren't leaving until sometime next week.
We have been invited to a pig roast on Saturday (Amanda is so excited about that one...), so there's no way we can miss that! And on Monday, this cool kid from Vancouver Island has offered to climb Angel's Crest with him on the Chief. Angel's Crest is a 13 pitch traditional climb with several 5.10 pitches. Amanda will not be joining in on the fun, but we have a pair of binoculars so she can watch me poop my pants safely from the ground.
I'll try to take my small camera with me, but fair warning, they will not be quality photos, but it does have auto-focus, so even I shouldn't be able to mess that up.
Also, next week, the temperature is supposed to drop creating great conditions for some of the harder lines we have been attempting in the forest. Hopefully, we can wrap up some unfinished business in the forest and hit the road back to America, down the California coast's Highway 1 to Big Sur, and eventually the Yosemite Valley for a bit before settling down in Bishop California for a month or so for some more world class bouldering.
Instead we aren't leaving until sometime next week.
We have been invited to a pig roast on Saturday (Amanda is so excited about that one...), so there's no way we can miss that! And on Monday, this cool kid from Vancouver Island has offered to climb Angel's Crest with him on the Chief. Angel's Crest is a 13 pitch traditional climb with several 5.10 pitches. Amanda will not be joining in on the fun, but we have a pair of binoculars so she can watch me poop my pants safely from the ground.
I'll try to take my small camera with me, but fair warning, they will not be quality photos, but it does have auto-focus, so even I shouldn't be able to mess that up.
Also, next week, the temperature is supposed to drop creating great conditions for some of the harder lines we have been attempting in the forest. Hopefully, we can wrap up some unfinished business in the forest and hit the road back to America, down the California coast's Highway 1 to Big Sur, and eventually the Yosemite Valley for a bit before settling down in Bishop California for a month or so for some more world class bouldering.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The Forest
Seems to me that we hit Squamish up at precisely the right time. Three solid weeks of no rain. I have no huge sends to report on, but Amanda on the other hand, has been crushing!
We have primarily been bouldering, but since it finally rained yesterday, we are heading to Checkamus Canyon today for some good 'ole fashioned bluff scalin'.
We were joined for a few days by Nashville natives, Jonathan Craig (all-around master of everything athletic) and Igor "I don't mind walking" Pusanov. We have also been hanging out with friends I met when I first came here (this is my fourth trip) back in 2003, which has been a lot of fun.
We should be leaving here within the next few days and starting our slow move toward Yosemite National Park via Highway 1 down the Californian Coast. We were going to ferry over to Vancouver Island for some sport climbing at Horne Lake, but we have decided to skip it since the Canadian Dollar is dominating our American Dollars ability to go very far up here.
Enjoy these photos that Amanda has taken!
We have primarily been bouldering, but since it finally rained yesterday, we are heading to Checkamus Canyon today for some good 'ole fashioned bluff scalin'.
We were joined for a few days by Nashville natives, Jonathan Craig (all-around master of everything athletic) and Igor "I don't mind walking" Pusanov. We have also been hanging out with friends I met when I first came here (this is my fourth trip) back in 2003, which has been a lot of fun.
We should be leaving here within the next few days and starting our slow move toward Yosemite National Park via Highway 1 down the Californian Coast. We were going to ferry over to Vancouver Island for some sport climbing at Horne Lake, but we have decided to skip it since the Canadian Dollar is dominating our American Dollars ability to go very far up here.
Enjoy these photos that Amanda has taken!
Amanda on the Black Mark, V4...so close...
This is what we have to look at every morning when we wake up!
I know what you're thinking, Amanda looks stumped in this photo. The reason? Why can't Josh focus the camera!
Taking a stroll on the classic Tradkiller, V4.
Making progress and more funny faces on Worm World Cave, V9.
Amanda trying to figure out It's About Time, V5.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Squamish, B.C.
Yes. Yes. Yes. We have arrived in beautiful British Columbia. More notably, in Squamish. Home to the gianormous granite monolith known as the Chief. And just below the Chief, hundreds of granite blocks nestled in the forest. We have been here nearly a week and have already run into many old friends who came back to Squampton in 2003--and never left!
On the way here though, we have a thorough history lesson in American Mining from tour guide extraordinaire, Shane Williams in Butte, Montana. As well as meeting up with the prestigious Dr. Mike Majerczyk in Seattle for an awesome dinner with plenty of laughs.
Getting used to the granite, we will most likely only stay here a few more weeks before ferrying over to Vancouver Island for some sport climbing at Horne Lake.
This is all for now, enjoy some photos!
On the way here though, we have a thorough history lesson in American Mining from tour guide extraordinaire, Shane Williams in Butte, Montana. As well as meeting up with the prestigious Dr. Mike Majerczyk in Seattle for an awesome dinner with plenty of laughs.
Getting used to the granite, we will most likely only stay here a few more weeks before ferrying over to Vancouver Island for some sport climbing at Horne Lake.
This is all for now, enjoy some photos!
Amanda on the Squampton classic, Easy in an Easy Chair, V4. Despite its name, there is nothing 'easy' about it!
Close up shot of the same problem. Sweeeeeet.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Check this out #2
That, my friends, is the rare level 5 Kentucky Waterfall haircut that existed for somewhere between 3 to 4 minutes sometime shortly before we started the trip. Amanda decided that since I may be mistaken for Lorenzo Lamas from the hit T.V. series Renegade ("and that's a bad thing?" I remarked.), I should most likely trim the latter off as well. Here in the photo you can actually see myself mesmerized by the sheer mulletude of the cascading curls as they frolic over my right shoulder. Already thinkin' about growin' it back out.
It's okay to be envious.
Leaving Ten Sleep
Today we are leaving the dolomite paradise we have grown to love over the past three weeks and are moving on to Butte, Montana. This stop was not planned, but a very special friend is going to put us up for the night, the one and only, Mr. Shane Williams.
We should be in Squamish, B.C., within the week, and I know Amanda is ready to break in her new Organic crashpad on the boulders under the Stawamus Chief.
Besides bouldering, we will also be doing a little bit of sport climbing in Chekamus Canyon. One wall in mind is known as The Big Show, and I remember seeing it in 2003 and thinking how crazy it would be to have the ability to climb on this wall. It is huge and looks like a giant UFO crashed into earth! We will definitely be posting photos.
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