We have settled into a comfortable pace here in the Red. With enough climbing to occupy us for a year, plus a restaurant, bathrooms, showers, (slow) internet, water, and camping all in one place, there’s little reason to venture elsewhere.
As full-time ‘recreationalists’, we now dread the crowds that accompany long holidays. I remember what it was like to have limited vacation days, anxiously waiting for the rare long weekend in order to go climb somewhere. Now, against all reason, I find a small part of myself resents these invaders.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not without sympathy. It’s just that I’m so comfortable all week, and suddenly I have to share this space with hundreds of weekend warriors. The climbing areas are full, the restaurant has an hour+ wait, the internet is completely unusable, there are lines for the bathroom, and it’s constantly loud.
A small portion of the weekend warriors at Miguel’s. All but one tent disappeared by Monday night.
However, the crowds do come with some positives. Namely, Euchre, new friends, and the rare opportunity to do a jigsaw puzzle using headlamps in a large crowd while someone plays a flute at the next table.
Our new British friends had never touched guns before, so naturally we had to take them shooting, on the side of a road in a national forest (yes, this is legal). Even with excellent climbing grip strength, one Brit was sweating bullets so hard she couldn’t initially rack the slide; after losing those initial nerves, everyone shot quite well and their excitement made it more than worthwhile.
Additionally, I started picking up a few delightful new phrases, such as “I’m knackered”, “Chippy Tea”, and a prevalent usage of “dodgy”. One particular discrepancy had me hoping that I hadn’t made any awkward/unintentionally suggestive comments about going to change into pants or something:
| American | British |
| Pants | Trousers |
| Underwear | Pants |
This last week can most aptly be described as very climbing centric, which is saying something considering that the entire purpose of this trip is to focus on climbing. John got on his first 12b ever, and I made some progress leading, flashing two 10d’s and leading an 11a roof.
John on Tecumseh’s Curse at the Shawnee Shelter. It was an 11d, but after he broke off a crucial hold, it may require re-rating.
While taking pictures of John climbing, I was sharing a ledge with this guy. His body alone was bigger than a quarter and I was less than thrilled.
Surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly, given our history), we continue to have our worst incidents while not actually climbing. John managed to walk into a sign – slicing his arm open – and I took a tumble off a belay ledge while John was lowering himself down, resulting in a mad scramble and grabbing of ropes (and somehow, only a few bruises).
Now that everyone’s gone, though, I can’t help but miss the excitement of the crowds…
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