Vegas Baby

It has almost been 3 weeks since we have been here climbing in Red Rocks and we have started to develop some good relationships with fellow roadies.  We have mostly hung out with a group of 5 who are from all over but go to school in Toronto together and also a few people who we have seen a few times along the way.  It is neat how taking the time off to do this was so huge and exciting for Jeff and I but we meet people over and over again who have taken dozens of climbing roadtrips through their life.  I love living the simple life and just climbing and sneaking into showers when we can, but I think I am too much of a home body to leave my family all the time.  I guess we have developed a small family at our campsite with all the other roadtripers.  As far as actual climbing goes, both Jeff and I have sent several climbs and more importantly have found some new fun classics.  Jeff has sent a handful of 5.12’s and I have sent many 5.11’s but we are both slow to break through to the next step and I think it will happen after a winter of training in the gym.  I constantly sit on the fence between wanting to train out here and push myself to be stronger, and to just enjoy the climb no matter how well or “not well” I climb it.  I think it depends on the climb for me too.  I worked on yak crack several times and I have virtually sent it many times but I fall on the last move so I have decided to just enjoy what a cool climb it is and when I climb it to try hard, instead of getting frustrated that I haven’t sent it and mentally beat myself up.  Jeff has been working on a 12b called aftershock on tsunami wall and the other morning we hiked over to lace the draws and he almost had it but fell at the very last move.  I think going with no expectations was the way to go because no matter what it was a win.  He has been sending 12a’s like crazy in 1 or 2 trys but is finding the step to sending 12b’s quite a big one.  It probably sounds like were really intense out here but really we just kind of hang out at crags with different people and climb and have a good time.  Climbing with all the different people we have met has probably been my favorite part of this trip.  We meet new people from much more foreign places than Canada everyday, and we have also seen many familiar faces so it almost makes us feel like were home.  Overall the last week here has been full of gratifying sends, good company, and many many mugs of hot chocolate!