West meets East

Yikes, Gunks

OK "they say California is the place to be". Well they just may have something there. Let's see: 300+ days a year of sun, Bishop in the cold times, Tahoe in the warm times, Utah, Smith Rocks, Squamish. Sounds pretty good to me, in fact I was and still am in love with the West.

Now the East : 300+ days of rain or snow, humidity, too many people, bugs, millipedes... Ok maybe it's not quite that bad, but close. Or maybe not, I have a really cool bouldering area the "Ice Pond" only 40 minutes drive from my place and usually I'm the only one there. I have the Gunks only 1 hour drive away and although I feel it doesn't live up to the hype, there is so much rock that I have found some really cool lines. First day at the local gym I met the owner and he gave me directions and the beta on the "Ice Pond". It is awesome! Don't expect to have skin left when you leave though. My first trip out I met Chucky. Chucky is super pysched about everything. We climbed all spring together and had a great time. Then along came Pete and a perfect January. I had started to give up on the carriage road at the Gunks, but Pete assured me there was some great stuff awaiting me. He wasn't lying, except maybe about the Buddha's though? All 3 variations had to be done for me to be satisfied. The first one I did second try, the second a few days, and the third a few more. I was covered in bruises, blood, and tears. Also I finally tried Dragon Turns, my current project. I came so close on Monday, but fear got the better of me, so this weekend I hope to finish it off.

So yes the West is better, but it ain't so bad out here.

Thanks Jessica, Chucky, and last but of course not least Pete (because I sent harder problems with you than with Chucky).