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Movie: The White Diamond (2004)
Wow, a documentary that presents real people the way the present themselves, complete with long pauses in dialog. The adventure of an explorer who has built an airship to explore the rainforest canopy in Guyana includes the intertwining stories of his own past, his hired help, and the filmmaker himself. I was touched by these…
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Arthur’s Rock
We introduce Doug and Liz to the beautiful trail to Arthur’s Rock. Last week Ann and Liz had to turn around due to unusual bear activity, and we see some large stacks of scat today, but no bear. We do the hike early, before it gets too hot.
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City of Rocks – The Wart
I’m still up for a single pitch or two in the evening, and Ann is tired but willing to belay. Heading to Elephant Rock we see the first evidence of the weekend crowds – the lot is full and a line of climbers marches toward the shady face. Rather than wait in line we head…
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City of Rocks – Jackson’s Thumb
After yesterday’s multipitch we’re hungry for more, so we start off in the morning to Jackson’s Thumb to climb Theater of Shadows, a four pitch low angle cruiser with lots of bolts for protection. I bushwhack up a steep, rocky, sagebrushy hill to the base where we can clearly the see the nicely constructed trail,…
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City of Rocks – Stripe Rock
We determine from talking to people and mining the guidebook that City of Rocks has a rare offering: easy bolted multipitch routes. Inspired to take advantage of at least one, we head to Stripe Rock to climb Cruel Shoes, a 3-pitch bolt party. It will be in the sun during the morning, but we hope…
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City of Rocks Camping
It seems like ages since we’ve camped for more than one night. We’ve eagerly prepared with a new cooler full of ice, beer, and food. The campsites here are really nicely spaced along the main road instead of clustered together. We have one of two sites next to King on the Throne Rock (#55). The…
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City of Rocks – Provo Wall
We arrive at City of Rocks National Reserve in time for some shady afternoon climbing on Provo Wall, near our campsite. We climb Easy Corner, which pushes me into several awkward (but fun) moves despite the name. We descend on the anchors of Tennish Anyone?, a nice slab climb, then toprope that. Our first impression…
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Visiting Fish in Nampa, Idaho
The Fish in question are Ann’s parents, who have just moved along with the Mission Aviation Fellowship headquarters. Our first impression of Nampa is that half the roads are closed! Most likely this is a sign of healthy growth, but in the interim it means that getting from one point to another requires either half…
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Movie: The World’s Fastest Indian (2005)
This is a great example of a true story crafted into a hero mythology. The characters and acting are good, and you’d never guess how suspenseful it is from a description. Honest, white-knuckled chair gripping. What fun. Referred by Clare
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Tumbleweed Stampede in Sublette, Idaho
The evening finds us in the broad hills of southeast Idaho, where a setting sun shines through the rain falling from a long cloud in the giant sky. Taking the Sublette exit off I-84, we drive east toward a pocket of Sawtooth National Forest to camp. Ahead of us on the narrow, recently paved road…