saragrace

Good morning, all! I just wanted to share this opportunity with those of you who are new to climbing... Thanks to Mountain Gear, I've got a great contest going over at rockclimbergirl.com. What inspires YOU? Answer that, and you're entered to win a two day climbing class with UClimb, to learn the basics of climbing outside. Here's the full information... UClimb / RockClimberGirl.com What Inspires YOU? Contest I look forward to your entries, and thanks for reading! -Sara.

I'd strongly encourage it. The mosquitos were something else! I don't know when the "good" time is for mosquitos... but after that trip, I went down to the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, and everywhere I went, my eyes were drawn to the newest and coolest antimosquito gear!

Here's my very first Washington alpine trip report... we did the Beckey Route, on Liberty Bell, at Washington Pass on Sunday. The TR is now online. Enjoy!

My use of the grade "5.6 my ass" comes from my friend Erika, so it would depend on her ass, not mine, I suppose...

The latest... a trip report that might be longer than the trip itself... Tieton, May 2009. Here's the link: Tieton River Trip Report, May 2009 Enjoy...

Whua? You mean, I could have been climbing instead? I told David that when I got off the ferry about 5:15, I did the math... figured I could just high tail it out to North Bend, get in a few pitches, and still be to the picnic by 9pm. Unfortunately, though, I saw the traffic and my plans were thwarted. Straight to Woodland Park I came... via a circuitous, trial-and-error-riddled approach. Next year, I'll know... Thanks for the invite, it was great to meet you all! -Sara.

PS... see y'all at the picnic on Thursday... I'll be the one madly putting together a last minute slideshow while suffering technical difficulties with a non-working laptop battery... er, wait. That is, if I can *find* my laptop.........

It's been awhile... there's some new stuff on the blog, and the latest is a quick post highlighting some fun moderate boulder problems (some would say "easy," but not me) in Leavenworth... http://www.rockclimbergirl.com/2009/04/rockclimbergirl-guide-to-moderate.html

Awww, thank you!

And last but not least, the post for Eagle Dance... http://www.rockclimbergirl.com/2009/03/red-rock-trip-report-march-2009-part-3.html

Here's the more detailed report on Johnny Vegas and Solar Slab... http://www.rockclimbergirl.com/2009/03/red-rock-trip-report-march-2009-part-2.html

Thank you! I'll do an update if the "real photographer" got anything good... his shots put mine to shame!

Mmmmm. Vacation. I'm working on next trip plans already... closer to home. Next week I'll post more detailed reports for solar slab and eagle dance... then hopefully next weekend I'll be out again somewhere pretty...

Well, I refer to myself as a girl because I am a girl (or at least, am female - don't know when the clock runs out on "girl-ness")... But aside from that, I'm not complaining. I get called a lot of icky things, routinely, in the various capacities in which I operate (work and life and climber-dom). Being called cute is a refreshing/pleasant change from some of the insults that get hurled at me -- I just can't resist busting chops.

Deal. And, Deal.

Awww, that's one of the nicest posts anyone's ever made on a rock climbing forum about me. Although I run into some trouble on occasion with badly behaved boys on the interwebz, my experience as a climbergirl in real life is blessed. I'm surrounded by generous, wonderful and fun climbing partners (mentors, peers and newbies) and don't know where I'd be without them. Thanks so much, Bug - calling me cute is one thing I can take or leave, complimenting my writing is another. Makes me smile.

Will reply to Bug in a sec... but first... here's the newest on Rockclimbergirl.com... Trip report & photo album for my March, 2009 Red Rock trip. We packed a lot into this last trip. Two long days out in Oak Creek; a couple days of cragging; time with friends new and old and a sh*t-ton of beautiful views... the climbing ranged from long and moderate, to long and epic, to short and sweet. Part one of the full trip report is online at http://www.rockclimbergirl.com/2009/03/red-rock-trip-report-march-2009-part.html and, here's the link straight to the better photo album if all you want is the eye candy... http://www.rockclimbergirl.com/2009/03/photos-that-make-my-eyes-water-red-rock.html More detailed posts will go up next week when I get a chance, with info about the days in Oak Creek (Johnny Vegas/Solar Slab, and Eagle Dance). Here's a bit more eye candy, in case you don't want to click through... Enjoy...

HA! I get enough crap for some of the pictures I post that are fully clothed. Am always trying for more photos... need to get used to the idea of my dirty climbing partners manhandling my precious camera... sigh...

OK... the latest... A trip report for my recent Red Rock (and, surprise! Joshua Tree) trip... http://www.rockclimbergirl.com/2009/01/red-rocks-plus-aka-it-sometimes-rains.html and, a write-up on my climbing partner's Honda CR-V-to-Honda C-RV Extreme Camper conversion. http://www.rockclimbergirl.com/2009/01/honda-cr-v-sleeper-and-storage-platform.html Enjoy!

It took me all weekend. Did the bulk of the writing last week, then more things popped to mind all day sat and sun. Just thought of another, but it left before I could write it down... Thanks for the happy laughing!

Hey, guys... it's been awhile... I've been mostly working, blogging, and twittering and not so much cascadeclimbers-ing or rockclimbing.com-ing... but wrote one I wanted to share with you all. Latest post on rockclimbergirl.com: Us and Them: Living Life Unconventionally It's mostly my observations on life as a dedicated climber, and how the more I get into climbing, the less I make sense to the rest of the world. Some day, I'll work toward balance... right now, though, is not that day. Enjoy, and I'd love to hear your "us" vs. "them" comments...

Hey - thanks for the local report, and the beautiful (if snowy) pictures! My climbing partner was in Bend for the holiday and she was very skeptical of whether we'd have any luck this weekend based on what she saw. I'll try to hold out a few more weeks, but ooooohhhh.... the withdrawal... it's just getting sooooo bad... Thank you!

The weather report in Terrebonne for the Dec 31-Jan 4 doesn't look promising, but it hasn't up here either and we've had some beautiful days. Are there any Smith locals who might be willing to chime in on your local forecast for this weekend? My first Smith weekend each year is usually spent freezing my ass off in February... so it's not like I expect 60 degrees and sunny... but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to hold out until Feb this year. I'm having serious real rock withdrawal... Thanks!

Hey, all... for those of us in the rainy pacific northwest today... My latest trip report is up... this one is closer to home. I spent last weekend at Mazama, WA, breaking in Bryan B's new guidebook. Unfortunately, we were an even numbered party so very little effort was devoted to photography... there's a chance that Teresa's camera has some pics on it, so I'll update the TR if we do get anything good. Mazama was a super fun place to climb (and camp). The trip started with picking up a total stranger as a 4th in Tacoma (cheers, Matt!); climbing-wise, we hit up Fun Rock, Rhinozone, Canine Crag, and Recess Wall at Prospector Crag. Rockclimbergirl.com Mazama Trip Report

I'm just about to head to Vantage for the weekend, and was thinking back on my various attempts to camp out there at the Coulee. To assist me in planning next year's Vantage schedule, which are the concert weekends you avoid or aim for? DMB weekends are an obvious no, for too many reasons to list. In my experience, Steely Dan fans are unpleasant camping neighbors (despite my appreciation of Steely Dan themselves). This weekend I'm sharing Vantage with Jack Johnson fans... thinking that should be pretty safe and low-key. What have your experiences been out there?