I generally like being outdoors and don't find that I need an incentive to go out and about. However, my recent introduction to geocaching has me in some kind of obsession. I could be out there finding all the geocaches and exploring new areas. Why am I not doing this every day? Why am I not doing it right now? So many things to find!!
I'm very stubborn when I want to accomplish something. I keep pushing forward until I reach that goal, but sometimes you just have to know when it's time to turn around.
Kelsey, Shane , and I set out to get Madison and Adams recently on one very beautiful day, but for those of you familiar with the WMNF presidential range, the weather can be very crazy. The moment we hit alpine, the temperature dropped and the wind picked up. Initially, it's just some more of that sweet mountain magic. But it starts to become less magical for those who are not ready for the worst case scenario. We made it across rocky ridge line with very low visibility (we were inside of a cloud), through 74mph winds, and to the Madison Springs Hut before the larger portion of our group were losing steam. The hut was boarded up from the furlough so we had no place to dry off. This ended up being the deciding factor. With the Madison summit a mere half mile away, we instead headed back home.
Though it is unfortunate we were not fully equipped, I am glad we are all safe and healthy after our adventure. I am reassured that this is a great quality to have, knowing when it is time to call it quits. But I've got my eye on those mountains and I'll be back!
I'm really excited to be in touch with some of my local climbing community. It's very interesting learning about everyone's climbing interests. I just want to climb, but I'm meeting those who want to bring climbing to newer generations, those who want to find virgin climbs, renew old climbs, and then some people who want to climb the big numbers so they can make a name for themselves. There's just so much more to climbing than simply climbing!
The two guys I've been climbing with most recently are working on renewing climbs in our area posted onto MountainProject.com. The fun part is that we're finding new climbing in the area to add! It's not big cliff sides or anything, but there's so much undiscovered bouldering in the area, I can hardly believe it. I'm really excited about my new project I'm taking on this fall season which is pioneering the bouldering in the woods directly behind my apartment. Two hundred acres and plenty of virgin boulders! Don't mind me, I'll just be the weird girl in the woods with the big brush and a broom.
These picture are from Pawtuckaway State Park.
One of the best parts about hiking is the feeling of accomplishment each time you reach a peak. What adds to that accomplishment is when you are hiking in an all girl group. I'm sure there are plenty of people not thinking baout this, but it seems most women I meet are just not genuinely interested in going through the effort of hiking. It's more of a novelty, perhaps. But fortunately, I have met some other women who love to hike! (Duh, it's what I've been doing all summer).
My friend Nichole and I hiked Jackson, Pierce, and Eisenhower. It was very fun on Eisenhower with it's small, bald peak and the wind blowing so hard. We were trying to see how much we could lean into it without falling over. I have a feeling it would have been like that one Michael Jackson video if we had thought to take our packs off. We didn't stay on the peak too long because the puppy really hated the wind. I'm looking forward to going back to that peak. I hope it's just as fun!
Today I took a trip with my friend Chris down to Hammond Pond in Newton, MA. There's some really nice climbing in this park. And I was excited to be able to climb outdoors with someone who knows what they are doing. I may have been dominating artificial walls at one point, but this is a different beast for those who are not faint of heart. Or will. Which ever drives you harder.
I was worried at first. We just went out to Nubble Lighthouse to do some climbing a few nights ago and the rocks chewed me up a bit. Also, I don't think I've been more aware of how much I can really get hurt. But after working on the first boulder, I got really into and really excited to check out the other routes. My fingers and toes are sore and I can't wait to go back.
Nubble Light is a popular stop for locals and tourists in York, ME. I got to check out some extra special local climbing there a couple days ago, what a treat! There's something funny about a skyline of beautiful ocean above you and a skyline above you on the other side of tourists wielding cameras. Hilarious, actually. I got some battle wounds from the incident, but I can't wait to go back and send those routes.
I've been trying to get more involved with my local climbing community. It's something I've been meaning to do for years, my schedule has just always prevented me. Thankfully, my bosses husband is an active climber and he was able to direct me to local routes that he's been working on. On is a five minute walk from my apartment! I couldn't work my way around it very well by myself. I didn't want to get hurt. But it's great knowing I can just walk down my road and work out a couple problems with some nice rocks.
The down side is that, and I'm ashamed to admit, I'm really at a loss on bouldering outdoors. I've been climbing indoors for years working on my skill level until I accidentally lacerated my hand at work almost two years ago now. I wanted to brings skills outside, but the damage to my hand had to be fixed in order to even grip anything. Eventually I lost almost all of my upper body strength, and definitely all of my core strength.
Thankfully, I have friends and I'm looking foreword to their help making me a better climber and their company while I take that journey. Definitely looking forward to checking out Hammond Pond in MA with an old friend from the climbing gym this Saturday.
I rememeber when I was in school and every kid thought there was nothing to do, like we all live in some drab hole simply classified as 'the sticks.' Sure we were limited in mobility because we didn't have cars or our parents didn't trust us leaving our own back yard, but I still think back to those days. Is it really that unsafe if we encourage our kids to explore? Are we really afraid of what's in our own town?
And the biggest question I have; Do the only adventures worth having exist in some exotic foreign country?
Well, I'm taking on my own challenge and I hope others challenge themselves. I went out into my area and looked for fun because I don't believe for a second that I have to spend even a dime to find adventure.
I found boulders out at the Newmarket Nature Conservancy, just a couple miles down the road from where I live. I'm looking forward to getting a couple buddies out here to climb. And a bigger crash pad.
I biked back towards Durham and decided to visit a farm. It's Durham Farm Day! And I'm a sucker for animals.
I hope the good weather keeps it up because I want to get back out tomorrow and check out those rocks!
It's a fact. Once you put your mind to something, the Universe will do everything in its power to make it more difficult to do like your dog eating all your pillows and underwear while you're at work. No one knows how the dog found them, but he did and now it's a giant mess of stuffing and unmentionables all over your apartment.
This summer, my friend Kelsey and I set out with a few goals;
1. Hike ALL of the 4,000 footers.
2. Do ALL of the exercise.
3. FAIL miserably at not eating the worst foods for you.
I mean, we really were aiming for not failing #3, but I mean... Ice cream. You can't even think the word without drooling.
So we're working on hiking all of the 4,000 footers. Or trying to. I could swear the weather this summer is intentionally sabotaging our trips. Which brings us to goal #2. Filling in all of the extra time with other exercise. It's a bit more daunting. You have to be very motivated to keep up with running.
Runners, I salute you!
Now that we're in the home stretch of summer, I have really only accomplished two things;
I have hiked HALF the 4,000 footers and I can now (to my surprise) go running every day. Not bad. I feel like a machine. A machine that needs to sleep and eat way more than usual.
We made a bold move and decided to hike five peaks in one day, bagging four 4000 footers. I don't think I've been more exhausted in my life. But for those who are more able bodied than myself, I recommend hiking Lafayette through the Flume. That's a 10 hour day of mountain magic.
