Here are a couple of shots from the recent Climbing Photo Annual. Keith Ladzinski took this sweet shot of Joe that snagged the cover. And Caroline Treadway got me a two page spread with her amazing silhouette. This issue stays on the shelf for 12 months! Great job guys!

So we’re leaving again. This probably doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s read my blog before, but for some reason every time this happens my body replies in nothing else than shock. The sadness and excitement do this funny mixing thing in my gut while my brain tries to stay cool and calm mapping out the logistics a move like this will take. Eventually the brain also breaks down as my naturally sentimental nature proves to be pure pussy shit and I go into melodramatic gaze sessions trying to take in every nostalgic ounce of the front courtyard, our beautiful vista or the recycling. Sure we can always come back to Southern Utah, but this living situation is likely gone for sure, and I’m realizing I don’t deal with permanence very well in any aspect. I like options, I hate being pigeon held and pressure never goes over too well in the mind of floater. If one hasn’t noticed already, writing gibberish and avoiding any solid point is another coping mechanism I’ve obtained for leaving.
The photos below are from my cousin’s recent visit, where I discovered partying hard is way more difficult than rock climbing will ever be, and beyond that a challenge I wish to exclude myself from a majority of the time. It also reminded me a live a pretty selfish existence, where I get to do pretty much what I want a majority of the time, (I know genius right!). But making time and space for someone else is another challenge worth putting yourself through from time to time.











I’m no a stranger to getting caught up in the pettiness of climbing. My life pretty much revolves around it so when I split a tip or have to sit through a rainy day, I’m prone to throw a little tantrum or two. But I’m never ceased to be amazed by those in our community who take it to the next level. They are so obsessed with climbing they seek out drama and negativity in everything. There’s no benefit of the doubt, there’s only pointing fingers and blame, and whining and bitching. Once again I find these emotions pretty normal and acceptable in the realm of climbing life, but only when it’s directed at yourself. Once these feelings are directed towards other individuals, dare I say get a life that allows you to stand back and take a look at the big picture.
Joe and I were dealing with one of those days recently. We were caught up in the world of climbing and since it is our world we found it hard to get out. It was Easter Sunday in the zipper of the west, so we were pretty much looking to escape in a ghost town. And then we saw it a beacon of light, or hope, or whatever you wanna call it. It was Eagles, the perfect dive bar to mull over your sorrows and play a cheap game of pool. These are our people I thought as I downed a cheap shot of whiskey and started on my watery Miller Light under neon beers signs.
It was your usual rift raft sitting at the bar on 3:30 on a Sunday. Joe got chatted up before we got to the juke box and for a moment I felt I was back in Nashville and a watered down version of Browns Dinner; I felt at home. But something was askew and before long we were approached by the DD of the bar who felt inclined to tell us about drunk driving, the fines for getting caught, the ills of this here town which include drunk driving and people jumping off the Virgin River Gorge bridge. It wasn’t long before he was telling us about his work for the Lord and the vision he had to come to Hurricane to find artifacts in the caves. All this was well and good but I was winning the pool game and this guy was really clamming up my victory with all his hoop-la.
On the way home Joe and I couldn’t stop laughing about the loopy guy we had just met. His stories of visions and hidden treasures seemed obscene, but then it hit me that in fact millions of people were in a different setting hearing a similar story just one a little more refined. We had had our Easter service at Eagles and I felt washed over and anew.
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It’s been awful lovely to have one of the girls around. Do check the latest pic from Caroline Treadway here. Just lovewhat she’s doing this season. Muah, xxx colette 