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El Rito Camping and Sport Climbing
After four days in Santa Fe, we put our new lifestyle to the test by taking our home up into the hills for a long weekend of climbing. We leave Thursday evening when Ann gets off work. The drive in with the camper turns out to be pretty stressful due to many low tree branches.…
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Life is but a Fanta Se
Santa Fe feels a little dreamlike. I’m moving here, but I have everything I need with me already. Granted, everything in the cargo trailer is in a giant pile after my shelves collapsed during the bumpy ride. I don’t look forward to taking inventory of the damage. Even so, I feel like Santa Fe will…
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Sugarite Canyon Climbing
The first order of business this weekend is to get our home moved to Santa Fe, but we figure we can mix in a little climbing too. I meet Ann on the night of my last day of work at Cedar Rail RV Park & Campground, where the owners have fed Ann dinner while she…
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I’m jobless!
I’ve enjoyed my 3 years and 7 months as a full-time web developer at Colorado State University, but I can’t remain an outdoor weekend warrior anymore! I’ll join Ann in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she is working, and I’ll have some time to explore. My first move is to launch a new website: Outdoorism Please…
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Mount Shavano Hike
Ann meets Dad and I along the road to the Mount Shavano trailhead for a belated Father’s day summit attempt. It’s a long haul, over four miles and 4,500 feet of elevation gain, but we have good weather and we make it. We’re happy that we gain the eastern ridge early to avoid a few…
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Sociometry Fair 2008
Using up every last minute of vacation during my last month at work, I travel to Chicago to for the 4th quadannual Sociometry Fair. I have to fly to get there and back in 4 days. Having heard radio stories about new charges for checked bags, I take only a computer bag with spare socks…
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Ironsides Climbing
Sean pulls himself out of bed at an unspeakable hour to make a 7:30 (make that 7:45) am meeting with Doug and myself. Liz is attending a wedding in New Hampshire, but has left us men a giant carrot cake packed with goodies that helps to fortify lonesome souls for a day of climbing. Clare…
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Holy Saturday Climbing, Vedauwoo
Clare and Dennis come up for Clare’s birthday, and accompany me to Vedauwoo on a warm bluebird Sunday for some big crack climbing. The Holy Saturday formation provides the goods. We only hit two climbs, but they provide plenty of material: Hideaway Chimney 5.5 is nice and long, incredibly varied, and holds plenty of surprises…
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Cleaning up tornado damage
I spend the day at my friend Mike’s house, demolishing what’s left of one of the six buildings he lost to a recent tornado. We had to cut it up and pack it into a big dumpster.
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Jurassic Park Climbing
A group of climbing friends and acquaintances enjoy a day of Vedauwoo adventure together at the Jurassic Park wall. The day’s routes: Lawyer on the Toilet 5.8 – my only lead, one or two good offwidth moves. Get Up That Tree 5.8 – climb the scary chockstones. Rowdy Joe Bad 11b – cranky slab on…