Climbing

Hi All,
With all the excitement of the wedding and honeymoon I have not posted any climbing pictures. I did do a little this year as I was enjoying my honeymoon without my wife, as my neighbor teases me about. I did not get nearly as much as last year but enough to get me thru until next time.

The first place I went was with Ben just before his wedding to Amanda. The place is called Lemon. It is one of those places you would not normally find, more of a local hang out. We did not have much time so we only got on two routes. The first was a 5.11a. Way fun and blank, as you can see.





This is Ben working thru the crux and making it look easy I might add.




I did make it up but with a few falls.

This next climb I think a 5.11c. I did not make it to the top of this one but I can't wait to try again. The climb is really long for the sport routes I have been on. I have a 60 meter rope and it was not long enough to lower off or top rope on. The belayer had to climb up to a ledge to belay.



This is me at the first crux. Trying to pull thru the blank section just past the crack.




This is Ben sitting on a ledge about 2/3rds of the way up.



Pico looking on.



This is Ben and I on the same ledge Ben was sitting on earlier.




This is one of the many beautiful views at Lemon.



The next place I got to climb was in Eldorado Canyon outside of Boulder, CO.

This is me doing a little bouldering.



A few days later John, John's friend Scott and I went back to Eldo and climbed Bastile Crack. This is a five pitch climb.

These next two are of Scott near the top of pitch one with me belaying from above.





This is Scott and I at the anchor of pitch number one.



This is all of us at the top.



This next video is of John playing with Katie the wonder dog. We all believe she makes a big splash just because she likes to.




This is a little hike we did up to Lost Lake. We did it last year too. It is just beautiful.

I am now back in Manistee doing some work with our house and getting to hand out with my beautiful wife.

Peace and Love,
Geoff

Yea! Our Honeymoon

Hi All,
The honeymoon. What a wonderful time we had. The day after the wedding (Wednesday) Janice and I left for the trail head at the north rim of the Grand Canyon. We wanted to get an early start on Thursday because it was a 10 mile hike with full backpacks, thru the waterless desert the first day. We ended up doing a bivy in the middle of a grove of Ponerosa Pines at about 8500 feet near the trail head. When we woke up it was about 34 degrees. I believe that day we went from 34 degrees to near 100 degrees at one time. The desert is an amazing place. We then finished up a little packing and headed out.

The trail leads along the rim for awhile and then heads down into the canyon abruptly. Here is our beginning picture just before the plunge.



Here is the tricky part of the trail. A short scramble down this cliff. It was not too bad but a little heady with full packs.





Here is one of the views on the way down.



The steep trail from the rim leads to the Esplanade. This is a section of slick rock and crypto soil. Here is a picture of the crypto soil.



Here is a picture of a big jackrabbit on the Esplanade.



After the Esplanade the trail heads down another cliff to Surprise Valley.

Here is Janice and I before taking the next plunge.



After the long down climb and a couple of mile across Surprise Valley (it is called surprise valley because, surprise, no water) we came to our honeymoon suite.



We then headed down to Thunder River. This is a spring that comes right out of the side of the canyon. Here is our first good view of it.



Since it is a spring you can drink it right out of the river.



In this video you can tell why they call it Thunder River.





Here is me with my beautiful, sexy wife hanging out at the river.




We had some other critters hanging out with us.



While we were hanging out I decided to climb up and see if I could get to where the spring comes out of the wall. Here is a picture of the falls from the climb.



Here is one of the caves the spring comes out of.



Here is Janice enjoying the good wine and fine dinner at the first of our 5 star eating establishments.



The next day we got up early and had breakfast. Here is Janice's sexy husband.



We then headed out to Deer Creek. This is about an eight mile round trip hike across Surprise Valley. We are headed to the canyon right across from me.



Here is what part of the trail looks like going down to Deer creek. You can see Janice to the right.



Here is Deer creek spring.



As you can see we can walk right behind the falls.



I am trying to cool off before heading down to the Deer creek narrows.



Here is what the narrows looks like.



Here are some hand prints left by someone long ago.



Here is Janice at the falls just before the narrows.



This will give you an idea of how deep the narrows get.



We then headed down to the Colorado river. Here is the somewhat scary trail we had to follow.



Our first good look at the big river.



This is Deer creel falls. It is over 180 feet tall.



We spent most of the day down there. Mostly napping and swimming. We did find some rocks to climb on.



A lot of rafting trips like to stop at Deer creek falls. When we were talking to some of them and told them we were on our honeymoon, they gave us beer. Thanks guys.

After a great day we had to head back to the suite. But on the way we had dinner at our other 5 star restaurants.





The next day we headed out for another long day hike down Tapeats creek. This was another about 8 mile round trip, steep hike.

Here is a look at the trail.



This is Janice cooling off on the way down.



Me playing and cooling off on the way down to the river.




Here is another look at the trail and Tapeats creek far below.



Our first look at Tapeats creek emptying into the Colorado.



This is the hike down to Tapeats creek.




Here is Janice cooling off in the very hot weather.



The water was again very cold. But the Colorado river was much colder. Which is so wrong.

Here is a guy paddling thru Tapeats rapids in his canoe.



After another day of napping and swimming and having some lunch, we headed back.

This is a patch of prickly pear. I have never seen them so big.





This is us at the last of our 5 star restaurants.



The hike out was another early morning wake up. I was happy that the hike out was not as bad as I thought it would be. We made it up and out faster then the down.

Here is our exit picture. Enjoying one of our favorite beers, Fat Tire.



It was a wonderful trip. We are looking forward to doing it again someday.

I hope everyone enjoys.

Peace Out.