DISQUS

Wow... since I don't have a television, I don't know these things... sounds like one I might watch with the sound off just to see the scenery...

Hey, honey!

If you haven't been to Smith Rock, it's worth the side trip. If you go during the week, it's especially worth the side trip... you can visit all the classic sport routes in the main river valley with fewer crowds than on weekend days.

If you're going to spend a night in Seattle, let me know! I can ferry over and introduce myself, if not get out to climb... not to knock my home crags, but if your destination is Squamish, I'd probably hit Smith and then buzz right up to the Squish. Vantage/Leavenworth/Index/Spokane and other Washington climbing is great... (you may have the most fun at Index?) but given the choice I'd just go get started at Squamish and spend as much time there as you can.

I haven't climbed a lot of the areas at Squamish... I've climbed at Smoke Bluffs (highly recommended -- lots of moderate trad, beautiful views, ultra classic routes... you *must* do the Zip, 10a and visit Penny Lane for some fun harder stuff); Murrin (eh, okay - some of it was really fun, but it's right on the highway so not as spectacular though there are turtles (real, live turtles) in the water which is cool). Chekamus is one of the areas folks go for sport climbing but I've personally been underwhelmed there (although I have visited a number of times and have had fun -- I just don't seem to have as *much* fun there as other places). I did my first trip up the Apron two weeks ago and it was phenomenal... super fun, beautiful views, nice and exposed... if you guys can get on the Chief, by all means, do it. I haven't done any really long routes there yet, but I can't wait to.

The camping at the Chief is really lovely... there are drive-in and walk-in sites, and it's a friendly, climber-dominated atmosphere. Part of my love of Squamish is rolling in during the middle of the night, sleeping out, and then waking up under the Chief in the morning.

Eat at the Howe Sound Brewing Co.... yammer jammers (sweet potato fries) are incredible, and I haven't ever been disappointed by a meal there. There is a great gear shop in town (Valhalla) and the grocery store right when you come into town is superb (although, remember that you'll have to buy beer elsewhere... I'd recommend looking up how much beer you can cross the border with and then buying in the US since beer in Squamish is EXPENSIVE). The deli in the grocery, last time I was up, had vegetable samosas which are my new favorite Squamish food (even cold, they make a great climbing day breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I may be up one of the weekends you're there... keep me posted? I'd line up my own partners so you wouldn't be stuck with a moderate-addict, but it would be fun to meet up at camp! Let me know what window you'll actually be in Squamish... I'll be in Tahoe at the end of your trip (if everything goes well... I'm hoping to take a solo trip of my own at the end of June) but the beginning/middle I'll be around.

Happy planning, and talk to you soon!

Look at you all cleaned up and beautiful!

Saw your post on mybloglog... welcome to the climbergirl club. I started out really carefully so did get sore but didn't get excruciatingly sore... I dragged one of my girlfriends to the gym with me for her first time and she climbed hard... then the next day I literally had to carry her files around in court, and she couldn't even hold a pencil she was so sore. It definitely is a different kind of activity... but my advice would be to start out slowly, let your tendons get used to the idea since they develop more slowly than your muscles, and just have fun. I've been climbing about three and a half years now, and it has, quite literally, changed my life. I envy people who can climb on occasion without "becoming rock climbers..." whether you become an addict or an occasional, climbing is good fun, good exercise, and you definitely learn a lot about yourself.

I have had more of those verge-of-tears-to-tears days lately than usual, myself. Perhaps it's the end of a very long winter. My family doctor (who is also a best friend) is an advocate of vitamin D. Personally, I just feel like I need more time outside on the rock. Take care of yourself, WG. I've been gravitating toward self-care myself... many baths, many cups of tea, and even some breaks during the day to read the latest stupid article about shoes or handbags. My philosophy on breaks during the day is that it just means I come home tired *and* ten or fifteen minutes later than otherwise... but sometimes we do need to shoehorn in a little bit of self-care.

Here's some positive energy for you for this Monday morning way away from Washington state... good luck with the negativity combat. I don't know what your musical tastes tend toward, but perhaps it's a day for Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by Flaming Lips?

Wowsa - came across your blog by random and will bookmark it, fellow techie girl, climber girl and dog mom! The St. George trip report is great -- I can't wait to get down there. The only bummer about our recent Red Rocks trip is that we went through southern Utah in the dark on the way down and on the way back... :( Nice to "blog-meet" you!

How wild that we may have been at RR at the same time? We were there for a week starting about Dec 27th...

Great pictures!

-Sara, Hana the Lab's mom, who blogs at http://www.rockclimbergirl.com