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Spruce Mountain Lookout
I’ve been up Spruce mountain once before in the autumn, and jump at the chance to do it again. It’s a good climb to an old fire lookout with a commanding view of the Green mountains and surrounding countryside. Jason’s sister Jen and her boyfriend Phil get the credit for proposing the hike first thing…
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Mushrooms at Pine Corner
My partner Jason puts Mom and I up in his tiny cabin on Sabin pond. It’s crazy cute. Sabin Cabin Sabin Pond Pine Corner It’s prime leaf-peeping season up here, but it’s rainy and we get way more excited by the mushroom bonanza that ensues. Sabin Pond and Foliage Mom & Mushroom Finding Honey Mushrooms…
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Lake Champlain Boat Lunch
My mother, aunt, and grandmother embark on a boat tour from Burlington that includes a lunch buffet. But it’s important to start with the sea monster. Sea Monster, Mom, and Grandmother Sea Monster, Me, and Grandmother Boat Lunch We pass shipwreck sites, islands, coves, and points punctuated with historical narrations. Limestone Point Lake Champlain Burlington…
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River rock after work
Mike and his dad John propose an after work session at River Rock on the Truckee. We’re hoping the days are still long enough if we get going at 4pm. We arrive before 5 and Mike jumps straight onto Karl’s crack 5.10a (see dirty talk). After we follow that there’s still time for me to…
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Sierra Buttes Lookout
I’ve wanted to climb up to the crazy lookout tower on the Sierra Buttes ever since I passed below on the Pacific Crest Trail in 1996. Now Dad joins us to do it sixteen years later! We camp and picnic first at the packsaddle campground. Packsaddle Camp Kuhns and maps The crags loom above the…
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Climbing at Big Chief with Dad
Ann and I figure this may our last chance to climb for a while, and Dad is happy to come along as an observer and photographer. The weather couldn’t be better and we have a great time cragging. Ann on Festus 5.10a Ann on Festus 5.10a Dylan on May Cause Drowsiness 5.10d Ann at the…
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Lava Tube Caving
None of our small family gathering have any experience caving, so there’s some trepidation as we start toward the “cave loop” at Lava Beds National Monument with headlamps in our pockets. The gang sets out As it turns out the first “easy” cave we hit is the longest one – a full kilometer underground. The…
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Lava Beds Three Sisters Loop
Dad and I enjoy a 7-mile loop hike on nice pumice trail that is really almost 11 miles. No matter, our talking makes the walking go by all too fast. We do make sure to notice that the lava landscape defies our usual expectations of eroded land forms – here gullies run straight into hills…
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Big Chief Perusal
Ann and I finally made it up to the Big Chief crag for a little climbing. This place has a great out-of-the-way feel, and though I’ve read that the rock is basalt it feels very different from other basalt cliffs in the area, almost like it was made of molten aluminum dribbled into a great…
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Friday Thomas Creek Cragging
Wes joins Ann and I for an early work departure for Thomas creek crag, verifying that this is a viable workday climbing destination, and the climbing here is fun enough to bear repeated visits. Whoop! 2012-09-07 16.14.39 2012-09-07 16.15.34 2012-09-07 16.15.36 2012-09-07 17.01.54 Routes: Brits on Holaday 5.8, Spit 5.10c TR, Spat 5.10b TR