WRWCT & Enchainment

The Wednesdays Rock Women's Climbing Team (We need a better name than that. Especially if it makes a good acronym.) were next to some climbers in the Cathedral Spires who were doing an enchainment of a few spires.

So, on Friday at Red Wing, we saw 2 guys climbing up "Too Low For Zero" traversing to "Rock-a-holics," and then down climbing. Next they climbed back up "Rock" and over to "Too Low" and down. Lisa said, "Oh, an enchainment." We thought it was a great idea to practice. Any thoughts?

Here's a "weekend warrior's" enchainment of 3 ice climbs.

'Nuf Said About Tiny Houses

How 'bout this house with an indo0r two story climbing wall and a fire pole to slide down after you get to the top?

Red Wing Monday

Yep that looks like my Scamp! Shirley and I are going to be at Red Wing around 3:45pm..ish on Monday. Most likely look for us by Jenna's. She'll be going for her second climb!

Here's Nora's Scamp

Purty cute. And Lisa, you can tow the 13' model with a Kia Sportage so I'm sure your Cruiser would work.

My Little House

I tried to find a better photo of my Scamp. I wanted one of these for a long time and bought it about 4 years ago. It's 16 feet and my four cylinder truck pulls it just fine. Air and heat! Pugs love it!

More Tiny Houses

This might be the ultimate in muscle powered amphibious tiny houses.

You can paddle it

 

 

 

 

Or roll it

 

 

 

And this one is perfect for Aaron & Nora 'cuz they can roll their bikes right inside.

Smart, Stylish and Independent, Just Like You!

The tiny houses are indeed cute, but I am concerned about the gas milage the cruiser would get pulling one. This is a better choice for me. Look it can be parked by a rock and everything- see photo.

T@B's classic aerodynamic shape and ultra light weight design make it one of the industry's lightest and easiest to tow trailers.

"Traveling by T@B is a great way to meet people. At gas stations, grocery stores — everywhere we went — complete strangers would ask about and admire our RV. Small, children, teenagers, married couples and senior citizens: something about our T@B brought smiles to their faces and made us instant friends. We've never had such a feeling of fun and friendship before. It was our best vacation ever. We can't wait to go again."

I guess if you like to make friends this is the way to go. Mel-lo has been a fan for years and made fast friends with the gal in Grand Marais that had one, she got a tour and everything. It had a zip Vestibule which was pretty cool. Go here to order one

While Mel was making friends with her I was making friend with the old hippies of the Nanner's Bijou team. As we took this photo, there was a guy sleeping on the floor behind us. This is not a great tiny house but it's cute!

Other Versions Of Tiny Houses

Nora pointed out "Tiny Houses" already exist. And these seem to be way more useful as portable base camps (OK, maybe the horse drawn gypsy wagon below is not that useful - unless you've got a yak.)

 

 

And this one is actually called "BaseCamp." And it's "a springboard for outdoor adventures, not a living room on wheels"

Mike Suggests Using A Foreign Language

As per the post below about how playing sports, builds stronger language skills, Mike suggests trying a foreign language to name that doohickey with the two metal clips hanging from a nylon dealie that you use to attach to a metal thingie that's bolted into the rock.

So, in French it's "attirer rapide." In German it's "quick ziehen." In Espanol it's "sacar rápido." And in Russian it's "Быстрый обратить." (That's my personal favorite.)

 

Of course, the original really looks like this:

Tiny Houses

Is this just a passing fad or a good idea? That's a tiny house below on a trailer on the highway. Drive it to your favorite cliff and park it so you have a base camp. Better than a tent.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Not everyone...yet, that's this winter. Mel-lo and I just celebrated our 1 year anniversary of climbing together. Many interesting things have happened this past year, all of it pretty fun and some of it has to do with climbing. Here is a partial list.

• The "slap the monkey" route...
  The green 8+ day from hell...
• specialty - the double belay set-up (not to be confused with the double climber set-up)
• Getting VE staff to just say "yes!"...
• Coupon mania...
• Redefining "Haulin ass" (not to be confused with Hall and Oats)
• Becoming friends with the Dr. Seuss lady!..
• Running around sooooo happy at ice climbing (with toe warmers)...
• Running around sooooo happy at the gym for that matter...
• First lead out of the pit
• First leads at Red Wing
• Setting top ropes in 38 degrees at Taylor's, forgetting the rope ( Thanks Eric)
• Seeing a piglet on the freeway and calling 911
• tip toeing past the Buffalo
• Getting my first speeding ticket
• sitting on a spire without crying
  Oh, and the epic SD trip, one never to forget!

and above all making many more new friends... All of You!

Julieanne and Amy, If I don't see trip pictures soon, I will start telling embarrassing stories... I know... I can make up a whopper, you have seen me do it. :)

They Actually Do Mention Rock Climbing

As a way to bring adventures home. But SCUBA is their number 1 recommendation.

"Now it is time to go home. The journey has ended. And thus begins the part that perplexes many an adventurous one. For we all relish the trail, but what of our "real" lives, stuck as they are in the mundaneness of day-to-day routine? How can we experience adventure, relive past journeys, dream of future endeavors...at home? Indeed, what might be done to feed the flame of adventure burning within, despite the fact that one is working a nine to five, paying bills, and arriving home exhausted evening after evening?"

I guess I'm stuck in the mundaneness of routine. And having regular meals and a climate-controlled home. But I have lots of options.

I'm Not Sure I Have The Words

To talk about this research finding:

"The results show that playing sports, or even just watching, builds a stronger understanding of language."

What do you call that doohickey with the two metal clips hanging from a nylon dealie that you use to attach to a metal thingie that's bolted into the rock?

Go Here To See Nora Competing

In a whitewater rodeo in Wausau. Way to be, Nora. (Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to watch her video.)

Photos of her competing here.

I'm Wondering If This Might Help Me

"Having clean-shaven legs — thighs flexing, contoured muscles sparkling in the sun — immediately identifies one as core."

Nah, too much work. Plus, there is not enough sun indoors at VE for me to sparkle. And I'd have to borrow some legs with that whole contoured thing.