Seems like we get weather every Sunday so we have to make the most of Saturday. This Saturday we went back to the mini crag in Sedona. I never finished my proj and I still have not. The bridge across Oak Creek got washed out last Sunday during a hard and heavy downpour. When we arrived the water was rushing pretty vigorously and there were no signs of the bridge.
We might have bailed but our good friends Ryan (of Ryan-Kwan-do), his wife Betsy and Joey (and Sunshine & Edie the dogs) were across the river. I asked Betsy how high the water was b/c she's around my height. The place she pointed to was higher than I could roll my belikos, so I zipped my jacket around my waist, removed the belikos, my shoes and socks, found a stick and headed thru the FRIGID waters. I thought it wouldn't really be a big deal. We did this sort of crossing the first time we went to the Anvilles with Ryan. Back then we had Nate the dog. He weighed a third of what Champ does and Ryan just put him in the top of his Voodoo Pad. Luckily Rich carried Champ.
When I got halfway thru the creek, my legs started really freezing up. The water was so swift that it was carrying my stick away every time I lifted it. And then, just over halfway, the rocks were very slippery. Oh, I did not want to fall in. I stepped on a reed, that probably would have hurt if I had not been so numb and then I was across. It took about 30 min. for my feet to thaw. We figured the water would be higher when we came back, as the snow would melt up-canyon (it was supposed to be warm).
After a visit with our friends and talks of when they'd fallen in or when I thought I was sure to fall in, we headed up to the crag. It was the first time we'd been there just to climb in several weeks and it felt good. We felt strong, but I also felt tired. JJDM pointed out to me later that I'd not had a rest day since Monday. Rich was exceptionally strong, climbing better on routes than I'd seen him in awhile, maybe ever. On boulders he always climbs like a machine!
So...we finally got around to my route. I broke a foot hold on it last weekend. The result was a much harder crux. I led it though, with a little progress. Later in the day I did it on tr with one hang. It's harder than I thought. I can't wait to get back on it. Maybe I'll take a rest day before the next time I get on it.
The best thing about the day was my new harness. I thought maybe my harness had something to do with my endless back pain so I ordered a Luna from Petzl. I absolutely LOVE it!! It is so comfortable, the gear loops are so easy to use and well placed for easy access, the adjustable leg loops give me room for layering and my bigger thighs. And today--no climbing pain--first time in a long time I've not been in pain after climbing. I have been doing Ryan Kwan do for 4 weeks now and I did yoga 2x this week, so maybe that has something to do with it. But I'm SUPA happy with this harness. NICE COLOR too! Thanks Chuck for saving the ole' back!
The walk back across the creek was less painful and dramatic--except that Champ kept wiggling around in Rich's arms and almost got dumped. We thought it was a fun little adventure to add to our day. We're weird.
Today is another blizzardy day. BRRRRR... Hope to take the dog for a sledding sesh on the golf course. Since I don't own a sled yet -- that's crazy as much as it's snowed -- but I'm going to use a cardboard box just like I did when I was a kid. We also used the huge hood of a bus we found in the dump behind our house. We could fit the whole family in it!
