To Smith from Seattle in 20 pictures

+ Bonus fotos.


After they closed the Seattle branch of my firm, I'm left with 30 days to find another job and to go have fun. So I worked on my portfolio, wasted time, went climbing, and then sprained my ankle. 

The drive from Seattle to Smith is about 6 hours via highway 97, which is way better than gambling and taking I5, because I5 will suck no matter what. And 97 is really pretty with almost no chance of traffic the whole way. Because there is nothing out there. But you get to see a ton of different climates in a short time. 

Standard view on I90, Subaru wagon.

The other standard view around Seattle. 

Apparently there is a Walmart out here somewhere, because these trucks were the most common I saw.

I do not recommend driving and taking pictures at the same time. 1, it is irresponsible. 2, even when you are really trying to pay attention, you may miss your turn because there is a hilarious sign that distracts you and you are trying to take a picture of it. These cowboys are looking awfully friendly with each other. 

I made it. At roughly one picture every 15 minutes, there was rarely a dull moment, even in the high desert.

Morning view from the bivy.

Night view from the bivy. I'm not completely sold that this is the place I want to live, but so far I think it beats everywhere else. Everyone is nice, the weather is great, and there is a ton of outdoor wealth around. Even my 25 year old friend bought a house 6 blocks from downtown, try doing that in Seattle. 

8.20.13

Campfire catharsis, except for the burning ban so it's candles.

Busted.

Busted. He'll get it soon. Maybe one day I will.

Bryan with the style.

Randy way up there.

Yours truly on Beach Arete. -Bryan

How to save the world

According to the US Energy Information Administration, the average annual electricity consumption per person in the US is 11,280 kWh.

The average amount of electricity used while camping is roughly zero. (screw your rv that doesn't count.)

Running these numbers through my handy internet machine; 11280/365*7= we could save 216 kWh of energy per person per year just by going camping for a week. That's around 67.6 gigawatt hours/year, which is equal to the total amount of solar energy produced in the US in 2011. Or enough to power a ton of lightbulbs for a long time. 

So do your part for the environment, and go chill the fuck out in the woods. 

Oregon Coasting

After spending the week in Squamish, we needed a short break from climbing. So we bailed to the Oregon coast. It's a lot of driving, but it's also a lot of pretty. This was our first time to the real Pacific Northwest coast. It is incredibly pretty, but even in the middle of summer the temperature was never hot, and the foggy morning was downright cold. 

Toad Brothers

I decided to blow all but 1.47 hours of my accumulated vacation to spend a week in Squamish with my friends from home as they celebrated our friends bachelor party. While we did eventually rally and spent an evening doing the bachelor party thing in Whistler
(luckily we didn't have to pay for any strippers because there was a beach party going on in some club and everyone was walking around way too close to naked for how chilly it was) most of the week was spent waking up early to climb and spending afternoons hanging out swimming at Murrin Lake. 

I don't know this guy, but everyone was here to watch him take this fall.

Brief climbing summary-I summited the Chief 3 times, each one being my new biggest climb. I camped in the woods and drank every day and loved it. I still can't climb Lounge Act V6. I still have yet to get on Exasperator even after walking up to it twice, but so far I think Seasoned in the Sun may be the best single pitch I've done in Squamish, and the hardest for me. It was just the best to have such an awesome week with my bro's from Boone and Seattle.  

Matt demonstrates good bouldering technique.

Erich and Ben run train. Except Erich fell off.

Veronica took this one, but at least I touched it in Photoshop. So creepy good.

I just get all exasperated looking at Seasoned in the Sun.

Some day I'll finish this thing. Maybe.


Thanks for the pictures too, Veronica.

Time for my lobster impersonation

Finally made it out to the Olympic Peninsula.

Had to have one climbing picture.

Because this is how I climb.

Lets be friends.