Day 56 - Friday June 29 - SKI

I know some of you have been skeptics on my plans to ski every month of the year. Oh, ye, of little faith. How canst thou not believe in me? I told you I would do it, and I am going to damn well do it! I met Cody at 6 am this morning at the park n ride at 39th and Wasatch. We then made our way up Little Cottonwood to the Grizzly Gulch parking lot. It had been some time since I had been up there. We strapped our skis and boots to our packs and began our ascent. It was interesting to see all these places that I have been skiing all year. I didn't even know what was below me. In some cases it is grass and flowers, in others it is large boulders or even slanted cliffs. I am not used to carrying gear and the hike was definitely harder on me than I thought it would be. It was beautiful, though. It took us a little while, but we did ultimately reach our destination: Wolverine Cirque. CJ and Cody had been up there on Monday so we knew there was enough snow in Granny's Chute. We climbed down in and put on our gear. I went first and found out quick that it is not easy to stop on this type of snow. I slid out and tried to self arrest to no avail. I ultimately came to the edge of the snow and grabbed onto a rock that would help me stop (I have the wounds to prove it). Now don't be alarmed *Stacy and Mom*. This was not a big deal. It was simply a fall that I slid a little after. Cody then took his turn and did pretty well. I followed him down and let me just say that people who say skiing is skiing no matter where you are or what time of year it is do not know what they are talking about. Don't get me wrong, the skiing was fun today, but there is nothing like hitting this same chute mid-winter in two feet of fresh powder. Ahhhh. As shown in the photos, we were able to ski quite a ways down into the bowl. We did eventually have to remove our gear, do a little rock walking in our ski boots, and eventually get back into our hiking shoes. Cody had a job interview to get to so he was in a bit of a hurry. We made our way back up to Twin Lakes Pass and then all the way down Grizzly Gulch to the car (it was remarkably easier on the way down than on the way up). One bummer about summer skiing is that you can't just ski to the car. When I have skied this very line in the winter I have been able to get to the car in minutes because you can ski all the way there - with some sweet turns on the way. Today, however, was just walking. I did enjoy the walk, though. It really is pretty up there right now. It was all worth it just for the hike... and I got to ski! We made it to the car only a few minutes behind schedule and we hurried home to get Cody to his meeting on time. It was an enjoyable morning. I don't think I will become a "summer skier" anytime soon, but the experience was fun and I look forward to doing this again in July. And to all of you who doubted me... FACE! (just a quick throwback to the third grade for you)

Day 13 - Wednesday June 28 - Climb Free or Die Hard

I finished work today around five as usual. I then began to make my way to the gas station since I had been pushing the limits a bit much as to how far I can go below the "E." Well, I found the limit since I only made it two buildings down from my office when I ran out of gas. I ran back to work, grabbed a gas can, ran to the gas station, then ran back to my car (there was some intermittent walking in between the running). I did all this hurrying because I was planning to meet Mike Schultz at six to go climbing. Getting gas at the station took a little while so I was about 15 minutes late to Mike's house, but I made it nonetheless. We headed down to Little Cottonwood Canyon to Mexican Crack. This is the most difficult crack climb I have done to date. It is a 5.10a with a really awkward start followed by a long crack that traverses left at the top. Mike did it first and I followed and cleaned the gear. It proved to be a very fun route while it was very difficult. I nearly gave up at the beginning since I couldn't even make it more than 4 feet above ground, then I made that move and was able to keep going. I had to take a break or two, but all in all I feel like I climbed it pretty well and definitely learned a lot about crack climbing today. When I finished we cleaned up and met like every friend I have ever had down at Jordan Commons to see the fourth installment in the Die Hard series - Live Free or Die Hard. I enjoyed it. Much of it was somewhat ridiculous and unbelievable, but it was fun to watch. The first Die Hard was great, the second one sucked, and the third and fourth are good for just simple entertainment value. If you have a couple hours to kill, I would suggest seeing it. Peace.

Day 12 - Saturday June 23 - Crazy Train

We woke up a little earlier this morning so we could climb before it got unbearably hot. Stacy, Bowie, Samwise, and I met Crazy at the trailhead of Ferguson Canyon at 7:15. I wanted to go back up there to climb on Cathedral Wall where I have never climbed before because of people always being on it. I figured this early on a Saturday morning we would have a good shot. I was right. We went ahead and began to set up for these climbs. I prepared to lead one of the climbs, but the first bolt was like 15 feet above ground and upside down on a roof. I just could not figure out how I was supposed to get to this without any protection below me. So we just toproped it. Looking back, it would have been way easy to lead the harder climb right next to that one since it had 4 bolts instead of 3. Crazy climbed first. He got stuck on a spot with few hand holds and had to come down to rest his arms. Stacy then climbed it and got stuck as well. I then climbed it and did so with ease (you know that whole "if you want to look skinny hang out with fat people" thing? Yeah, I kinda did that today with beginner climbers). Stacy followed and succeeded as well. She then had to go to a wedding shower so she took the dogs with her. Crazy gave it another shot and had no problems. It was one of those times where you just didn't find the right hold and when you do you kind of feel like an idiot that you didn't make it. I then climbed the 5.9 crack to the side of this and it was a lot of fun. It is a pretty wide crack, but there are a lot of moves that require strategic body positioning. Then Crazy gave the crack a shot and didn't quite make it. I began up the crack again only to find that the rope was stuck to I just got it out of the crack and I climbed halfway up the crack then the rest of the way up the face to get to the bolts and clean the gear. By this time there were several people waiting for our spot. I don't really like to climb when people are waiting for my climb. Why can't they just deal with the fact that we are climbing it and go somewhere else? That's what we always do. Oh, well. We were done anyway. I really struggled up that last time - my arms just did not want to pull me up any longer. We had a good time today. The crack was fun. We climbed some new routes. Yeah!

Day 11 - Wednesday June 20 - A Crazier Night

I met Blake at the trailhead of Fergusen Canyon tonight at 5:24 (I was running about 4 minutes late). We went on up and Crazy was not far behind us. I wanted to climb the 5.8 and 5.9 on Cathedral Wall, but there was a family climbing it so we did the old fallback, Extreme Unction. Blake had to leave early and he wanted to try to tackle it again. He set up the rope with the guidance of the dude he met just chilling at the top of the climb, our new freeclimbing friend, Josh (I just don't know how anyone could free climb - I mean, does he expect us to take care of him when he falls, or what?). I then climbed it and then Blake gave it a shot while I helped Crazy get the hang of belaying. He did some belaying last night, but it is one of those things that you just need to do a bunch before you really start to get the hang of it. Blake made it easily over the upside down staircase but did not have enough strength left in him to make it all the way up and over the roof. He came down and then made his way down canyon to get to the wedding he was already late for - at least he has his priorities in line. Crazy gave it a shot, but struggled to get past the staircase. He was really hoping to get past this part knowing that it took Jer nearly ten separate days on the same climb to finally figure it out. He didn't quite get it, but he does have a few more attempts to remain ahead of Jer. At the time he decided to call this one quits, there was a whole group of Relief Society ladies hiking up and they thought they would have a seat to watch me climb it. I did so in order to clean the gear we had left at the top. I am sure those ladies where so impressed. We then went around the corner to the route that if you follow the bolts it is like a 5.11 or something like that, but I led it in the trad crack to the left that is a 5.7 and just reached over to clip in. This was done with a whole new audience of a youth group consisting of about 20-30 kids. What a night. I then had Crazy climb it (which he did with ease) and I walked him through how to clip in to the mountain and clean the gear. This was exciting for him seeing that he just learned how to tie the appropriate knots yesterday and I was now making him do it without anyone looking over his shoulder. He did great and we both lived to tell the tale. It was a beautiful evening up the canyon, and I look forward to doing it again.

Day 10 - Tuesday June 19 - One Crazy Night

Stacy and I went over to Crazy's house on Sunday to watch the Bond film, "The Spy Who Loved Me." This was definitely Roger Moore's best one, but I am still not the biggest Roger Moore fan...but I digress...As we were there Crazy voiced that he wanted to get to REI this week to gear up for climbing. This made me happy. I have thought for some time now that Crazy would really enjoy this sport. So I wasted no time. On the following evening I met Crazy at REI and he bought a harness (Singing Rock), some shoes (5.10), a locking carabiner (BD), and an ATC-XP (BD). I met he and Brock at the mouth of Little Cottonwood at 5:42 tonight (I was running about 12 minutes late), and we made our way up to the slips. Several people were showing up right as we got there. This just seems to be such a busy place nowadays (I say that as if I have been going there for years). We crossed the river and I led the 5.6 arete. Crazy then went for it. I figured this would be a good first climb for him since it is relatively easy, but there are a couple spots that require some strategy. He got stuck at one of these spots and was near unto saying he wanted to come down when we coached him around the difficulty and he was able to succeed. He was glad we did so. You don't want to fail on your first climb. Your second climb, however... Brock quickly climbed this and cleared the gear and we made our way down to the 5.10s around the corner. Brock led the 5.10a and then Crazy gave it a shot. We all knew what the result was going to be, but hey, we are doing this to have fun, right? Not to only do things that are possible! He got to the roof and then lost his holding and decided to come down. I then attempted to climb it. My arms were getting tired before I even made it to the roof so I went to the side where I could stand and rest for a moment. This was not the best idea because getting back over proved much more difficult than planned. I did finally make it after some time of debating on how and if it was possible. I still don't know if it was possible, but I did anyway. I climbed the climb and I conquered. Brock climbed it one more time and then we were on our way. There was a couple that was waiting for me to make my move so they could climb this one, but they got tired of waiting and the girl led the 10c instead and I think she was happy with that. She said she had never led anything above a 5.9. We once again crossed the river and rewetted our pants and Chacos (as if our Chacos ever dried off). It was an enjoyable evening and I am super stoked Crazy is into this. I will be getting him out again and again within the next while so he can begin to get comfortable. Later.

How to Talk Like a Telemark Pro

I found this on this internet today. I found it to be quite hilarious. I especially enjoyed #4: "Make fun of alpine skiers by telling them to lose the 'training heels.' "

Tri 1 - Saturday June 9 - Desert Sharks TRIathlon

And you thought it was going to be a "try"athlon for me this first time. Today was the day of my first triathlon ever. Yes, I did it. And yes, I feel good about it. The race was up at Crystal Hot Springs about 1hr and 20min away. Ryan, Stacy, and I woke up at 5:00am in order to get up there in time and even then we were hurrying to get everything done. I spent all my time setting up my transition station (keep in mind that this is my first tri) and I didn't have time to take a wiz before the race started. We had to rush down to the pool and get started. The swim was really pretty easy. I did learn that I need to get in the water before the race next time because when I put my goggles on just dry out of the water they didn't keep a very good seal and I had some leakage problems during the race. But don't you worry, I rose above it. Ryan was just ahead of me in the swim and he didn't totally smoke me on that part. I did pass one 53 year old woman on the swim and I felt good about that (she looked like she had done this before). We got out of the pool and made our way to T1 (that's transition one for all you non-triathletes out there). This proved a smidge dizzy for me, but quite dizzying for Ryan and he ended up having to sit down to put his bike shoes on. I felt good about my T1 time. There is definitely room for improvement, but for my first time I thought I did it pretty fast. I got on the bike and things were feeling good...then it hit me that I really had to urinate. I don't know if the pressure areas from the bike enhanced this situation or what, but I could not take my mind off of it. I am sure that I will be able to reduce my bike time next time if the only thing I do different is use the restroom before the race. But there was no way I was going to stop racing to go (there was even a time where there was nobody around me and I thought about just standing up as I rode and going off to the side, but then I chickened out). Other than that nagging thought, the bike was a piece of cake. I really felt good about it. I removed my shoes while they were still attached to the bike (like all good triathletes do) and as I did so I felt some cramping, but I powered through it knowing that I only had like a few more bike strokes to go and I did not want to cramp at the beginning of the run. I did get over it. I flew into T2 (do I even need to tell you what that means?) and made a quick transition to my running gear. The only problem was that I seemed to had forgotten my race number which they will not let you run without. So I had to go back into the transition station and get it. This didn't set me back too far, but it is one more thing I learned from my first time. The first part of the run was hard. My legs were in biking mode and they really didn't want to get to running mode very quickly (and to be truthful here, I didn't run all that much in training so I am not sure how used to running my legs were at all). I did get into the mode and had a good flow going in the middle section of the run. I ran down then did the turnaround thing at a little over a mile and a half and shortly thereafter passed Ryan going the other way. He wasn't too far behind. As I neared the end of the run, I was dead. I did all I could to sprint to the finish, but I am sure it wasn't much more than a brisk walk. I did finish and I had a blast. I quickly thereafter made my way to the restroom and then came out to cheer Ryan as he finished up as well. We had a great time in this thing. We will definitely be doing this again. I came in 20th overall and 2nd in my age division! Ryan came in 3rd in our age division! Please disregard the fact that there were only 4 people in our age division, and just enjoy the photos with us holding our medals(courtesy of Stacy Butcher and her wonderful cheering/photo taking skills)! Thank you for reading my blog, and have a blessed day.

1 hr 14 min

Some dude Stacy decided to take a picture of
Skinny is so in right now!
1 hr 20 min

In anticipation of my first tri (or is that "try"?)

It is happening June 9th at Crystal Hot Springs - my first ever attempt at a triathlon. The swim will take place in the 40 yd pool and consist of 400 total yds (about half of a normal sprint tri).
The bike route is shown here:



The run route is shown here:



This should be a blast. Wish me luck!