Not-so-secret Secrets...

Saturday morning, Rich wanted a full day of climbing. We decided a thorough scouting of the latest bouldering/climbing area would be a good way to spend the entire day. I wanted to bring route gear, but since the routes have not all been done and the FA-ers are still working up there --it would be more respectful to not climb routes. So we packed up our pads and headed that way, visiting with Tomas & Heather at LFTT on the way.

Got to the first bouldering area and Rich is already sussing out his itchy scratchy problems and long traverses. This is one of his FAs.

Champ was digging being in the woods. He likes the smell of mountain lion, getting weeds all in his beard, shade...

Rich sends...

Finally made our way up to the cliff with the crew. Routes look super cool and it was really hard to stand at the bottom and watch without getting to do the moves. A little more bouldering and then we left with sore, red, bloody tips. We were there for seven hours.

Girls Ed - Beats for Books

The Washburns come to Flag...

Rich climbing with Jake & Isabelle


My Man, doin' his thang - look at 'dat technique!

Jake

Ipo - another of our guests for the weekend

Jake climbing to the top

Jake is an animal on the rock!

Jakey!

Isabelle

Belle, a mountain biking natural

pad testing

3/4 of the Washburns! Arkansans Rule!

Suzanne, Allen, Isabelle & Jake, fellow Arkansans (fellow-as in Rich is an Arkansan and has dubbed me an honorary Arkansan -woo!) from Durango came to visit us this weekend. Friday they amazed everyone at Absolute Bikes when they rented a tag-a-long and actually went out on trails with the kids for single track fun on the Campbell Mesa trails by our house. They had a great time and then we took them to our favorite bouldering area, the Glorias, after we got off work.

Rich whipped up one of his famous dinners. Delicious food, drinks for the gang, Brent showed up and entertained us all.

Saturday we went to West Elden. It was the perfect hang for our large gang, which included, Epo, Martel's dog who we've all but adopted (because she won't let us). It was the perfect fall day. Stan and Margot showed up to push me up the Twighlight Zone (see last post). Big dinner and lots of kid entertainment.

On Sunday Suzanne and I did a quick number on the Campbell Mesa trail (with Epo) and then our friends left. Rich and I slept for three hours! Wooh. Parenting - now that's a real job.

A great break from the week's home buying stress and so much fun to be with friends.

Into the Twilight Zone...

We were sitting on a rock beneath the Twilight Zone, and all thinking it was nap time...then Stan and Margot walked up. Stan started telling me all about the route he first sent at the age of 15 - Twilight Zone! I was intimidated, but racked up. Even though I thought I'd taken plenty of gear, I ran out of big gear at the top where it gets bigger. I put two cams in - each on just two of the four cams, had a few words with myself about how I wasn't going to fall off anyway, took a deep breath and continued up. It didn't really take until the third time I did that (up and down climbed a bit). I didn't really want to have a crowd, but all the encouragement surely got me up it. The day had already been great, but this route was definitely the highlight! Thanks Stan for the push!

Too Tired to Talk...

After a harrowing day of loan shopping...I thought I was finished, but the rates have taken a real dive. So once again I was scrambling on buying this home. Extremely fatigued. But I did take the time to take Champy out for a walk/jog and got to witness one of the more beautiful sunsets ever. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera, so this shot was the last ditch effort. Only three more weeks and two days until Champy has a back yard.

Lava Cave Tube

Ted sporting a new "hair hat" he got at the car show

Rich getting the beta on the Lava Cave from the boy scouts

Ted and Nanc
(does he make her stand 10 feet behind him??)

Lava cave info...before descending into the depths

the entrance

entre vous

darn, these climbing headlamps don't work in this cave

Took Ted and Nanc and the dogs to the Lava Cave up near the mountain. I've been wanting to go there since we moved here. The lava cave, really called the LAVA TUBE was formed roughly 700,000 years ago by molten rock that erupted from a volcanic vent in nearby Hart Prairie. The top, sides and bottom of the flow cooled and solidified first, after which the insides of the lava river continued to flow emptying out. It is 3/4 of a mile long and 30-45 degrees F summer & winter. It was discovered around 1915 by lumbermen.

We never made it past the entrance because the dogs were scared and our headlamps were way too dim to see in the complete dark. I mean dark.

Someday we'll get to go in. I think it would be best in the dead of summer though.

The's Birthday Weekend...

Ted (Thea)

Nancy, Mazy & Champ

Nancy cruisin'

Meotch

Rich

Boys taking a breather (for the dogs ofcourse)

I think Nancy is having fun

Juniper

Champ and Mazy are outrunning Ted

Since we were in middle school or so we've (my siblings and I) have been calling our brother Theodore, Thea or The (where you pronounce the "th" -- theeeuh or theee). He came up last weekend from Phoenix so we could take him and his wife and two dogs mountain biking and cook him up some ribs, salsa and corn on the cob. We also got him an ice cream cake upon his request. His belly was real-eye happy!!

Climbing, Climbing, that's all I ever think about...

I'm a wreck from trying to buy this house. Four offers and runarounds that I would have never imagined. I think I'm losing hair and I've had a headache for four days. Still waiting to see if the bank signs the counter offer that they sent us and we signed last week...

We discovered a new old area here and I've been so excited about it. All I want to do is climb. Climbing has always been my saving grace during stressful times. But actually, I've been amped since our vacation in Durango. This spot is located up on the mountain, but not too far from the car. Tho it is far enough to be completely quiet and serene. We've only been there twice and have had it to ourselves both times. It is sporty and technical. I can't explain the routes, but they are pretty much the most fun I've ever had in Flagstaff.

I have really let myself get out of shape for climbing in the past few years. But I've sort of rediscovered the things I love about it and am motivated to pursue my interests. These past weeks I've watched some local ladies pulling down. It inspired me and made me feel excited like a kid again, like I used to feel about climbing when I first began. The difference is, I want to climb both bouldering and routes now. I don't know how that will work in being able to accomplish my goals in both, but I'm going to go for it. I work so much better when I have goals.

Today was the best day I've had in a long time. Rich and I climbed at that special place. At the end he was cleaning a route because there was a lot of thunder and dark clouds. It was so quiet and green with flourishing green grass and plants all soft on my feet and ankles. Then the thunder pounded so loud it was not even scary. It consumed us, feeling magical, like a gift. Soon we saw a big curtain of rain heading toward us and ran down the mountain to the car.

When home we fell asleep on the couch and relaxed for several hours. We took a shower and then decided to go for a hike to look for Secret Canyon. We made it most of the way up the mountain and could see the crag, obvious because an enormous boulder sits between two of the walls. I mean BIG, but could not get there. A yucca stabbed my leg and actually broke off in it. It wasn't as bad as it sounds, just to give an idea about how overgrown the trail was. We wondered back finding some cool boulders and Rich made fish tacos for dinner. I made my home made salsa. A really nice break from our stressful week.

Nooooo! Don't make us leave!

Day 8 of Vaca - Our Last Day in Durango :(

Hrmm ... how does this work?

Jake gets Pumped Up

Suz is always pumped up - but here she goes again

Rich at Sailing Hawks
a little scrambulation before heading out on the road
(these boulders are right behind Suz & Allen's-LuckY!)

Rox climbing

We stopped on the ReZ on the way home to check out some dinosaur footprints. For reals!

Multiple prints in the sandstone

Not many footprints left in the sandstone...

Rich looking for dinosaur tracks

This was to mark something but the only thing we could find was some poo with a rock pile on top of it. Maybe just for the pretty sunset?

I'm pointing to the track guard - snoozin' behind me...see pile of cans...

Petroglyph.
And then we went home.