High Sierra Topix

At long last, graduation weekend was upon us. The Wilderness Travel Course (WTC) that I took last winter took over Indian Cove Group Campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park for the weekend. At first, I was a bit skeptical of the weekend, thinking I might just sit and watch football on my buddie Dave's satellite TV. But at the last second, something a bit more interesting was set up, and my friend Leti and I got to join in the fun:



Yup, that's right, that's me in a harness, looking NOT HAPPY. It was a route on Sunday called Tumbleweed (5.6) in the Hodgepodge Rocks around Site 5, Indian Cove Group Camp. I actually did fall on this one, about 5 feet below the top of the route, and while the peanut gallery below was encouraging me to get back on and finish, I was DONE and wanted to be lowered RIGHT NOW THANK YOU. :shock: I think it took about 10 minutes for my entire body to stop shaking, but then I started smiling again and I knew I'd be back for more.

We climbed three other routes on Saturday afternoon, Water Moccasin (5.4), Serpent's Scales (5.6), and Cottonmouth (5.6) over in the Indian Palisades region. My first route was, I think Serpent's Scales, which took me forever, but Paul (on belay) wasn't going to let me come down until I figured it out. I spent the afternoon sounding like a wounded animal, whimpering, breathing, and mini-screams of terror when my foot (aren't you supposed to trust your feet???) would slip.



It was a great weekend, and many, many thanks to Ray, Paul, and Leti for 'showing me the ropes' and putting up with my terror. I knew this was a 'next step' situation, and I'm glad I have it under my belt! Now if I can just find the skin that used to cover my left elbow...



Pics are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moosepics6 ... 610981458/

Moving sale this weekend!! Woohoo!
-L 8)

Good job! Will be doing the same with Trailbud and his son this Sat. in the Alabama hills, hope no one hears me whimper.

Well done Laura!!! Although, I must say I can't imagine you in the role of a "whimper-er". Sounds like a GREAT class and a lot of fun, scraped elbow and all!

So... the "moving sale" must mean you found a place in Bishop? Now I know where to stay next time I come down

Thanks, guys. Oh yeah, there was a lot of mini-freak outs going on while up, especially on Sunday. They even got video proof (over which I put a soundtrack so I don't sound quite SO ridiculous!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq0L9SqPoUo

And Rosie, you are SO welcome to crash anytime!!

-L

Congratulations on climbing CL 5 stuff! Looks like fun! Long reaches . . . yeah, YOU can do it, I'd be flopping! Been a long time, I should try it again!