Summer Road Trip - Part I

So we're off! After a late start, and mandatory photo sesh on the salt flats, we were screaming across NV at at least 150 MPH. I know you want to call BS cause my car can't go that fast, but we were in Caroline's car, so there.

Next thing we know, we're somewhere on the East side, meeting up with dear friend Craig for beers at some kind of concert at the East Side Moblie. Those guys know how to throw a party. We camped out on the East Side that night, and it was really really cold! Like in the 30's. LOW 30's, probably. This should have tipped us off, cause our first stop was Tuolumne meadows. That was about to change.

Turns out the Tuolumne campground was still buried in snow. So we made a quick decision, and headed down to Yosemite Valley. Not ones to waste any time, we hopped right on the ultra classic Nutcracker. We styled up in a party of 3 (Craig was still in tow) despite the looming clouds, and serious wind. "The climbers appeared to be aware of the dangerous weather conditions, but chose to continue climbing higher." Good thing it only drizzled.

The next day, we got some honest rain. There was a break in the afternoon, so we went out again, and got skunked again. 0 for 2. Nice move, Yosemite.

Team Caroline & Kevin came back with a vengence the next day, when we smoked up the Royal Arches. 15 pitches of crack & slab fun. Luckily the weather held, and we survived the North Dome Gulley walkoff.

Day 4 - Munginella. Surprisingly good line, despite the name.

Oh man. Day 5. I guess that's today. We climbed the Central Pillar of Frenzy on Middle Cathedral. Why hadn't I done this route before? It was fantastic - 5 pitches of 5 star crack 5.9 climbing, and an easy rap off. Fingers, hands, offwidth, chimneys, slick stemming, you name it. Brilliant.

Pics: Carabiner sign post in Yosemite, Caroline on pitch 12ish of Royal Arches, Caroline on pitch 2 of CPoF.

Next? You'll just have to wait and see.

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/KevinQuaderer/Summer2009#

Or here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2383366&id=6216663

The second link should have captions. Let me know if it doesn't work.

Summer vacation is finally here.

I started teaching elementary school this year. I've loved spending time with the kids, but as they say, there are 3 main reasons to be a teacher: June, July, and August. (All joking aside, teaching is sweet, the kids are amazing, and I can't wait to see them all again in August. But we all love vacation!) Here's the rough plan:

1. Go to Tuolumne. Climb domes. I hear it's sick.
2. Visit the SF Bay area (fly back to SLC for a few hours for an interview)
3. Go to Yosemite. Climb free routes. Long ones.
4. Partner swap Zac for Caroline. She's cuter, but he makes good breakfast.
5. Climb big wallz? Hope Zac doesn't get scared.
6. Go to Canada. Climb free routes in Squamish. Sick? So I hear.
7. Come home to SLC, then fly to VA to see family.
8. Climb at the NRG in sweltering heat.
9. Return home, and resume climbing on weekends in some of the greatest locations on the planet, but restricted to ones within 5 hours of SLC.

Partners in crime. See the connundrum?

So there you go, that's about 10 weeks worth of fun in the sun. Makes me wonder how I ever survived on just 2 weeks per year. Oh yeah, and I still get paid all summer.

Life. Is. Sweet.