Back to Reality

Hey y'all! This bipolar weather is starting to get rather irritating. Don't go from 80 degrees to snowing a day and a half later. PICK A TEMPERATURE!! Anyways,  spring break was last week and a few of us decided to get back to reality. If y'all know me at all, you know that reality does not involve sky scrapers, lab/work, or seeing people who aren't nature geeks.

First things first. The first weekend in March, Aaron came to visit! I think he appreciated the weather (which was a beautiful mid 60s most of the time)! After getting him from the airport, we went to TRC to get a solid climbing session in and he could meet my climbing friends and they could meet him. He also met one of the kids on Team who loves to attach herself to my hip. Dear Kelly needed to show off how strong she was by carrying me around (which worked well for me). She's a darling.

I took him to my favorite places around Raleigh, took a hike around Lake Johnson in the sunshine, asked each other philosophical questions, found another wine to enjoy, introduced him to my beloved friend Emma and her boyfriend, and just enjoyed his company. This is when we weren't talking about our climbing trips or my trip to Seattle and Portland this summer.

Then he left. I ran into lab for a few hours, packed my car full of climbing gear, and tried not to get too excited. The next day, David, Patrick, and I got in the car and drove to Red River Gorge. We did a night climb the first night we got there. We also managed to get lost a few times trying to get to the crags. Maybe we are just bad at reading the guide book? 

Chica Bonita Wall?

Anyways, we were all over the place - which was fantastic. I finally got to do my first lead climb outside :D  We did a lot of wandering around trying to find the crag, climbed a bunch of routes, usually ended up climbing in the dark, last ones to leave the crag, had lots of pizza from Miguel's, and had a few chilly nights in the tents. It was one of the best spring breaks I've had. Mainly because I got to see Aaron, went climbing at The Red, and didn't have to go to lab for a week. Coming back to civilization was difficult. My lights seemed too bright, not everyone was a climber, and there wasn't rocks to climb everywhere. I slept on my floor for a night or two to slowly transition back to society. So when I say "Back to Reality" y'all know I'm not talking about skyscrapers, work, people, and cars - I'm talking about crags and mountains.

My favorite place and drink while at RRG

I have to be artsy sometimes. Also, I learned if I want hundreds of photos per climb taken, just hand your camera to David. He will get every shot from every angle. Therefore, I decided a picture of climbing shoes would be sweet.

Here's a list of the climbs that I did. Patrick and David did more (I got really sick one day and couldn't be bothered to move). David got on Pure Imagination (5.14c) and clipped the second bolt and was on his was to the third. AND I MISSED IT! Guess that means I'll just have to drag him to RRG again with me someday soon :)

David on Pogue Ethics - by the way, Aaron knows one of the guys who did the First Ascent on this route!

Panda Bear (5.8) Animal Crackers Wall
Sam (5.10b) Animal Crackers Wall
Riki Tiki Tavi (5.8) Animal Crackers Wall
One Armed Bandit (5.9) Boneyard
Dance of the Druids (5.9) The Hideout
Pogue Ethics (5.9+) Phantasia Wall
Creature Feature (5.9) Phantasia Wall
Lord of the Flies (5.8) Phantasia Wall
Overlord (5.10b) Phantasia Wall
Mary Pop-Parazzi (5.5) Chica Bonita Wall

Patrick on Pogue Ethics

ONES I WILL DO THE NEXT TIME I GO:
*Cindarella
*Boltergeist
*Brown Eyed Girl
*Baby Blue Eyes
*To Defy the Laws of Tradition
*Sugar Rush
*Oompa

Me on Pogue Ethics - I highly recommend this climb:)