A Week in the Creek

A few pictures from our first week in the Creek...

A nice view

Star and the Six Shooters in the background

Sun rays shining on Anunnaki 5.11+/5.12-

Chelsea clipping the chains on Soul Fire 5.11

Star taking in the view

Star guarding the tent!

Oh hey life, what's up?

Good grief.  I’ve finished college.  This is a day that many doubted would ever come, maybe not due to a lack of academic prowess, but probably more to do with my efforts to spend as much time climbing and as little time in class as possible.  I think I did a pretty good job with that mission, and it is actually possible that I had close to as many climbing days as class days in the past four years.  Good work self, good work.

School’s out for the summer!  School’s out FOREVER! 

So wait, I’m done.  Like done, done, diggity done.  Like I’ve been in school for the majority of the past 18 years and suddenly I’m not and, and… holy s**t, is this real life?  I really haven’t pondered life after death school all that much, other than to think, ‘well it will probably be more fun, because I’ll have more time to rock climb.’  I should probably insert something insightful here, maybe some reflections on my college experience, but I’m already a million miles away (actually 1,808 miles, there were some detours, I’ll get to that in a minute), making my way towards Moab, UT.

What would motivate me to leave San Luis Obispo, the happiest city in America, at a sprinting pace, barely after turning in my last final?  Why, Indian Creek of course.  The desert paradise of splitter cracks.  And who should I choose to accompany me on this liberating journey to discover the meaning of life?  Why, Chelsea of course.  The only person who could be convinced via one text message, to quit her job the following day and head out to the desert to sleep on the ground for a month.

As I extracted myself from the back of my car this morning, where I had slept along with Chelsea and Star at a rest stop in the middle of nowhere, after driving for 10 hours straight, I was hit with a blast of 25 degree air and whole-body soreness that only comes from spending a night on top of a bag of dog food.  Welcome to life after college, Lo Pat, I hope you enjoy it.

I do not anticipate the probability of my impending homelessness with trepidation, but rather with excitement.  I find that my home on wheels offers a great deal of convenience and flexibility.  In terms of life plans, I do have some concrete ones, which include interning with Wilderness Inquiry in Minnesota this summer, where I will be a canoe guide on the Boundary Waters as well as taking on many other varied tasks.  After that, I will be meeting up with one of my best friends and first climbing partners in Vedawoo, Wyoming.  The plans stop there, but the ideas include relocating to Tahoe, Bishop, or Jackson Hole.  At some point, probably much sooner than I would hope, I will need to find a source of income.  But until then, let’s party on! 

On a sad note, my big boss man, Titan, severed his tendon while we were in Tahoe for a few days prior to departure for Moab.  I love Titan more than ANYTHING.  In fact, any guy who decides he wants to date me will have to accept the fact that Titan is my main man, and that he will always be second to my dog.  That being said, it was extremely hard to see him hurt, and even harder to make the decision that his best chance for healing properly would be for him to stay behind.  Thankfully he is in the good hands of my parents and sister and I know he will enjoy lying around on the couch.  We left him yesterday, and I already miss him terribly.  I hope he heals quickly and that he and Star will handle their separation well. 

Back to climbing.  Am I psyched?  Yes. Am I worried that the noodles that I used to call arms and hands, that have been laying dormant at my sides for the past six months may not be able to jam their way to crack climbing glory?  Slightly.  Will it all be ok anyway?  Yes.  I’m going to the desert, I’m going to climb rocks, and sleep on the ground and sit around campfires and stare at the stars and not take showers.  And it’s going to be amazing.