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.

Typical Seattle Weekend

I got  your duck boat right here.

Where does your energy come from, Where does it go?

Fun infographic on green house gas flow, from ecofys.com.

Full size pdf 

Juneyouready

They don't call it mailbox peak for nothing. 3800' of elevation gain in 2.5 miles is great training for those long stairstepper sessions at the gym.




Bryan sticks it to the Shield. Or does he? Another good weekend of no hard sends in Leavenworth, probably the last before summer.

Good for the soul. Hub red, beer, fire and camera. 

I guess he was the only one climbing this weekend.

Who crushes 5.6? We do, as long as the approach isn't too difficult.

Watch out for the bears.

Too hot to climb? Slackline by the beach and then eat a cheeseburger. 

As consolation I may have put up a first ascent up on at the Pretty Boulders. You never know in a place like this, but we had to move a big dead tree and do some excavating to get it clean, so maybe. Anyway, it faces 'Pretty Hate Machine' and we called it 'Pretty Dick Swab.' I thought it was really fun, Hopefully it stays clean. 

-Pics from Bryan.

Me on PDS

I want to live in a van with you. No hobo.

We took a 4 day weekend to Smith Rock. All friends and food and music and no shirts and sun. And rain and cold and traffic. Nw vacation perfect.

Thursday - 5 hour drive to Portland to see friends from Richmond. homemade biscuits and good beer.

Friday - early easy drive to Smith. rock climbing. pretty cold at night. 

Saturday - Wake up early for 'Wherever I May Roam' 5p 5.9. Turns out it's on the shady side. Who knew? Naps, ice cream, climb easy climb harder, onsight a couple 11s to make me feel good. 

Sunday - rainy morning, go to Bend, Sigur Ros is here?! climb 2 routes, too crowded and no time, great show, and more great beer.

Monday - this rain's not going away, bail. 97 is so pretty in Oregon. Noodles, art and architecture at Maryhill. construction on Memorial Day on I-90! somehow Smith is never 6 hours away like it should be.