Did a 5.5 mile jog/hike on the castle rocks apline loop trail- my all-time favorite short trail. I was so happy to be up at the crack of dawn in my favorite place, out camping iwth friends. Early in the loop the wildflowers were dwindling, I was thinking that the meadow you hit 4 miles in was going to be dead.... but surprise! I was so happy I stopped to take pictures and frolick thru the flowers. Orchids, tulips, daisies, and other tubers I don't know the name of... Ah.
Then I was a bad girl and climbed all day. Started the day leading the first route of the day (gear lead) and was surprised at how well I handled my emotions leading- ended up with only 3 pieces in the 35 meters (and I brought I double rack thinking I'd be nervous and sew it up).
A few climbs later and my ankles were killing me so I stopped climbing, since I had night plans. Come dinner time Em and I headed out for a "Mom's adventure." I stole her, she hasn't had an adventure out since her 2nd baby was born. After I brought up JAckson's thumb, her husband says to me, "Well what are Ben and I supposed to all evening with all the kids?" I laughed, "Ask Ben. Have fun!"
Em and I got to the base (long hike) and the ankle was tender. We decided to swing leads. Ankles were NOT happy- so the pitches I didn't lead I climbed barefoot or in tennies. I belayed Em up pitch 1, and she stopped to scope out how to set up the top belay for me. (It's been a while since she's done a multi)
"Oh, did I need to bring one of those?" she said, pointing to my ATC. Crap, I start trying to decide who gets the short straw to be belayed on a muenter (what's worse, muenter on a top belay or lead belay?) but fortunately she just mean the type of ATC I had (reverso style)- she had an old school ATC on her. Whew.
It was breezy, by pitch 2 it was picking up and we started to worry a bit. Mid pitch 3 the wind increased to 30mph with 50mph gusts! We were blowing over trying to clip. After we rapped from the tip of the thumb, we go to pull rope, said a quick prayer "God, please don't let the rope get stuck up there and make us be here all night" Tried to do the famous pull slow, fast jolt at the tip of the rope.... but the wind blew the rope and we couldn't. Fortunately the rope almost came down.... actually, about 30 meters of rope blew down the gully and snagged onto the rock about 2 ft from the ground the whole way down. Hooray! So we bushwhacked down, picking up the rope as we went. Ankles were screaming, and I was getting worried about my uhhh "rest day" slowing down the healing process.
After we got out of the gully we couldn't find the climbers trail in the dark and buschwhacked around for an hour. By the time we were halfway to the car we saw Ben pull up in the distance to the parking lot. So we pulled out a headlamp and turned it on flashing so he'd see it and know we were ok. Unfortunately he thought that was a sign of distress (he was remembering how I couldn't take steps at Bryce) and ran out to come carry me out. Silly boy. I hiked out like a big girl.
Apparently the kids loved staying up til 11pm eating marshmallows, and told me it was the best day ever. They did a few climbs, hiked, and played with friends all day too- and yes, it was a great day. :) Woke up the next morning, ankle much improved... really I was just stretching it out.
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