Monthly Archives: September 2021

Sep24

A labor of love – My labor day climbing road trip! Part 0: A summary

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Saturday, 04-Sept-2021, through Saturday, 11-Sept-2021

I love road trips. I’ve learned that, speaking to various therapists and councilors in the last year or so, long drives are a major form of meditation for me. I have something to keep me focused, and I’m accomplishing a goal, but I can let my semi-conscious mind wander and reflect on what’s been happening in my life.

I try to do this at home, of course, but… I always get too stressed out, feeling like I should be doing something instead of just sitting back and letting my brain process all the various thoughts and possibilities that are constantly screaming around in my skull.

For my birthday, I’d originally planned to climb at Index with Daniel. When that fell through, I’d sketched out a road trip down highway 101 into California with my friend Laurel. That fell through too. Finally, I gave up and decided to do something on my own – something I’d always wanted to do, but had never quite been able to make happen.

An ascent of Devil’s Tower...



The plan was simple: Drive to South Dakota over two days, climb for two days, take a rest day, then summit Devil’s tower. Then, drive back home over another two days.

Making it happen… was a little bit less simple, you might understandably guess.



There were reservations to make, maps to print out, a packing list to make, and groceries to shop for. Gear to organize, consumables to tally up…

But that’s the fun of a roadtrip, right? Heck yeah!




So let’s get down to it. What WAS the overarching plan? Well, I’m glad you asked:

  • Leave Saturday morning, 04-Sept
  • Drive to Montana, and stay at a hostel in Missoula
  • Drive to South Dakota, and stay at a campground near Rapid City, South Dakota
  • Climb for two days in Custer State Park with Sylvan Rocks climbing guides
  • Have a rest day, maybe explore Mt. Rushmore & the rest of Custer State Park, and stay in a teepee at the base of Devil’s Tower
  • Climb Devils Tower on 09-Sept, ideally via the Durrance Route
  • Drive back to Missoula on 10-Sept, and stay at the same hostel
  • Drive home from Montana, arriving home on 11-Sept, with one full day to unpack and decompress



And how did that plan go, you may further ask?

Read on and see! But as a spoiler: it went gloriously!

Sep5

Some family time, over a weekend in August

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19 through 23-Aug, 2021


My Mom came to visit!!!

In previous years, before COVID, She’d come to visit most Februarys, after finishing her conference… but it’s been a while since that’s been possible, and these last years have put a pretty large damper on how often we can see each other.

But this year! This year, COVID had calmed down just enough to make it possible! Granted, it was starting to swing upward again… but we had the window, travel was safe, we took all precautions we could, and we finally got to visit!



It was beautifully low-key. We did a ton of fun stuff, but also made a point to take the evenings quiet – It’s been so long since I’ve been able to just sit on the couch and read, or lay back and watch a movie with family… I’m getting misty eyed just thinking about it!

So what did we do, you may ask? Well, without going too poetic on this, since it’s kind of late tonight…

She arrived on a Thursday – I was able to take some time off work, but did have to run back into the office in the afternoon again… thankfully though, it was a quiet day, and I was able to head back early enough that we could make a lovely fun dinner of bucatini, asparagus, and sopressata. With Burrata, on top, obviously.



Friday, we took a quiet morning and then drove up to Mt Hood to have a simply amazing lunch at the Timberline Lodge. Then we did a bit of hiking around, before heading back into town and having a nice quiet evening. With ice cream, obviously.



Saturday, we visited a coworker of mine’s farm! He raises Alpacas, among other critters, and one of the Alpacas had just given birth – Something I rightly guessed that my Mom might enjoy. The Alpacas were so fluffy!! Then more home, relaxing, and anotehr amazing dinner – this time, salmon Cesar salad!



Sunday was, unfortunately, our last full day. Sad face! But we made good use of it – a full eggs-benedict breakfast, followed by some lovely walking around town, and… more ice cream! Reading, relaxing, and sitting out and enjoying the changing seasons… we’re not cold in Oregon, by any means, but we’re a heck of a lot cooler than we were back in July with those 117° days!



Monday came along far too quickly, if you ask me… but it arrived just as you’d expect it to. An early morning breakfast, a drive to the airport, and the whirlwind was over.



It was lovely, and a good reminder of what I’m missing in my life… visiting with friends in Boston earlier in the year reminded me, and this just reinforces that feeling. I’ve enjoyed Oregon, but I’m very much missing family as well…