Gotta Love Campfires!

Once again, I've been blessed by meeting some amazing local Solid Rock climbers, and other wonderful folks as well. This past weekend we invited our campground neighbors over for a free BBQ and campfire/music circle. It's really fun to give out free food and just hang out with people! Despite the intense winds (and I mean intense!), we had a good 25 folks come and hang out Saturday night. We also got in some good climbing and had a Sunday worship service at the campground. I'll be here for another week camping and climbing with various folks.

Bishop: For All Seasons

In Bishop, CA you can climb year-round! This small town is an outdoor mecca, just east of the Sierras and west of the Whites. There are more climb-able boulders here than I've ever seen in my life!

Christ going for the dyno

Kevin is having fun at the Sad Boulders

Travis and I managed to find (with Kevin's help) some stellar cracks in the Owens River Gorge

Warming up on an upper gorge sport climb

Stephanie belays Emily in the upper gorge

Joshua Tree

Being in Joshua Tree is like coming home for me. However, this time I got to see the wildflowers and Joshua Trees in bloom for the first time : ) The cries of the coyote, the goofy Joshua trees, the haphazard stacks of rocks, and the quality Outward Bound friends all welcomed me with open arms. (OK, well I didn't exactly hug the coyotes or the spikey Joshua trees, but I have been known to hug a rock or two.)

I had a great weekend hanging out with my dear friend (and fabulous belayer) Jess

Our buddy Chris leads the awkward but exciting crack roof.
The book says 5.8, we'd say more like 5.10 - gotta love Joshua Tree ratings!

Becca in front of one of thousands of JTree rock formations

Jess climbing "The Exorcist, 5.10a"

Zion National Park

After taking a wilderness medicine refresher course in Moab, UT I headed south to Joshua Tree. Unfortunately I did not get to climb at all in UT. (Indian Creek- I'll be back!) However, I did get to stop for a brief visit with another Solid Rock climber who is her second season guiding in Zion National Park. We climbed a couple of beautiful cracks and had a great time sharing about our lives and our dreams. It was encouraging to meet another woman who loves climbing, lives her faith, and also lives out of her vehicle : )

Janette on "Tails of Flails."

Another new friend Sarah is guiding in Zion this season as well

Red Rocks Rendezvous

Over 1000 climbers came together for a weekend of climbing, clinics, and partying at Spring Mountain Ranch near Las Vegas NV. I had the privilege of volunteering for the event with six other Solid Rock members from across the nation. We enjoyed climbing, hanging out at the festival, and volunteering with registration, parking, and coordinating climbing areas for clinics. We had a Solid Rock booth at the event and worshipped together at one member's home on Sunday morning. 17 people showed up for corporate prayer and praise! (...followed by some climbing of course!)
Travis, the National Office intern, came down to help out with the event. We met lots of great folks throughout the weekend and climbed before and after our weekend duties. We did Travis' first long multi-pitch route, Birdland (5.7, 5 pitches) on Monday before he flew back to Bend, OR.

Climbing in Red Rocks

Vegas 2008

Friends from DC and CO met in Las Vegas for a four-day weekend climbing trip. Solid Rock climber Terence "Vegas" Kudo brought us all together and offered up his time-share condo for all of us to crash and cook together. We had a blast!

Almost half of the climbers joined together for a casual Easter Morning worship service at the Red Rocks overlook.

Left to right, front to back: Vegas, Stephanie, Kristin, Jack, Gene, Julia

The Southwest

The seemingly barren landscape of the Southwest welcomes me with warmth! After narrowly avoiding snow storms on my drive across the country, it is especially nice to be back in the sunny, familiar desert, with the yucca now in full bloom.

Middle of somewhere, Utah

Forrest (my trusty steed) and I are glad to be back in Red Rocks, NV

Yucca

On The Road Again!

Visiting w/ Mike and Liz in TN

Meriem & I in front of the capitol building in Lincoln, NE

I'm wearing little Adelynne's cowgirl hat to try to fit in at the Denver Horse Expo

Daddy Darrin shoes horse for a demo clinic

Leanne with her youngest, Cora (also wearing Addy's hat)

Chillin' in Denver w/ Jess & Bella

It's been wonderful to see old friends, make new friends, and explore different pockets of culture as I drive across the US. I have been blessed with the generous hospitality of many friends, and am grateful for the opportunity to establish and re-establish connections with so many people.

I have a tendency (along with our culture) to be task oriented in my life, but I am reminded that our relationships are truly what matter in life (and after life). I've gotten to do a little bit of climbing, and met some amazing Solid Rock members along the way. However, after spending time in VA, TN, KY, NE, and CO, it's time to head to Red Rocks where it's 70 degrees and sunny- no snow to keep us from climbing there- viva Las Vegas!

Climbing in Mexico

I had the privilege of spending two weeks in El Potrero Chico, Mexico. The weather was phenomenal, the people were amazing, and God worked in beautiful ways. I enjoyed lots of great climbing, a slower pace of life, ministry opportunities with Solid Rock Climbers for Christ, and a renewed sense of vision and passion for the coming season on the road.

My new friend Hannah North, on a 7-pitch route called Satori.Dottie, myself, Abel & Roger at the entrance to the Potrero, attempting to hand out water, juice and cookies to climbers before the dogs (Floppy, Biscuit, Sparky & Genevieve) ate the cookies!

Solid Rock member Roger Kubly shared the good news of Christ with Abel from Hidalgo, Mexico.
Abel was excited to hear and accept it!

Leading my hardest on-sight yet: Fat Boy Slim (5.11b, sport) - Yeehaw!

My host and friend, Dottie Cross with part of our favorite Mexican family- Esau & Deveny.

Climbing friends from Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, and Ontario : )