2013: Another Trip Around the Sun

I've met a lot of new folks via blogging in the last few months. I'm enjoying catching up on the high points in your lives through posts like these that are beginning to crop up with the end of the year. I hope you enjoy catching up on my old pursuits, too!

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Starting the day the right way on the mountain with the National Anthem

January: I fulfilled a mini-dream of skijoring with horses. We had fun. I enjoyed many long weekends with ski patrol. I posted about the myriad of things in my saddle bags, and took time to dote on the pretty mare and her feet.

Joshua Tree; Photo by Mandy Weston

February: I skied more with patrol. Took an incredible trip to California to visit Mandy in San Diego; we also went to Joshua Tree! When I returned I embraced my horses "flaws" and reflected on Griffin's issue with a creek.

Climbing rocks with Q mare

March: Kenai demonstrated a valuable lesson to me. I celebrated his 3rd birthday, too! I took another trip, this time to Colorado to ski a lot. Griffin conquered his issue with the creek. Then I took another trip to NC to horseback ride in the Uwharrie where Q proved how awesome her feet really are. I tried to pony Griffin with Q as I'd done on past occasions, but after this incident I quit. Then, after a silly scare with what ended up being Q just shedding her frogs, I researched and reflected on a hoof for all seasons.

Before the injury at No Frills

April: In a quest to climb more this year, I made my first vertical escape this month. Spring also means foals, and this year we got to play with a Gypsy Vanner sporthorse foal (that Q later tried to steal). Q powered through her workouts, impressing me thoroughly. I also started some riding sessions on Griffin. And finally, Q and I competed in our first ride of the season: No Frills. It didn't go as planned, but I reflected on the things I learned and realized I had a lot to be thankful for.

Visiting Dom and Ozzy in NJ

May: The first of many busy, busy months! I climbed. All over. And went to a climbing festival! Q began to heal from the freak incident at No Frills. I celebrated her 7th birthday, and continued to monitor her healing. After a scary moment, she was released from stall rest early which gave me time to go investigate the rock that presumably caused her injury during the fall. Griffin exhibited that he is a shithead as he threw shenanigans at me all month; he has redeeming qualities though. I ended this month with another trip - this time to NJ to meet and play with Dom, her friend Margaret, and all the horses.

Such a pretty boy he's turning into!

June: June began with an anecdote about Griffin trying to kill small, defenseless animals. The kitten - Atticus - I brought home from NJ began and Kenai began their love connection. Griffin pulled a huge shenanigan that left me hurting after his first trail ride. I went climbing some more. Q healed up beautifully. I began working her again; we experimented with dressage and I got her back on the trails. I ended the month with a quick invite and acceptance to ride in my first 50! Scioto Run taught me a lot.

Saiph riding Q when she visited

July: I moved into my own place: a barn! Q gave lessons to my friends, enjoyed some LSD, jumping, was a parade pro, and shared riding with a friend who dearly missed it. Griffin turned 3 this month. He's changed a lot since I got him. I embraced a summer of stay-cationing in WV with many pursuits and explorations. The highlight of the month was hands-down the visit from Saiph and Charles though!

Completing my 3rd 50 on Siena; photo by Nancy Sluys

August: I competed in my second 50. Kenai's surgery date arrived and the beginnings of post-op were very trying for me. In one big weekend, one of my best friends got married and my new jumps arrived. I tested Q's trot to have a better idea about how to continue her training. Griffin continued his shenanigans as an angsty teenager. I had an impromptu bareback jump session on Q that thrilled me to no end. I competed in my 3rd endurance ride and loved every minute.

Me on Grffin and Dom on Q when she visited

September: Dom and Mike and the dogs visited WV; we all had a blast! Q continued to be amazing in her workouts and on the trails; we even did a 20 mile jaunt for fun on the rail trail where she proved how incredible a trot she has. These experiences coupled with reflections made me realize I'd overcome the hurdle of thinking 50 miles on a horse was an impossible feat. I took an interlude from horse play to climb Seneca for the second or third time this summer. While not working Griffin heavily or often, he was worked a lot this summer. September brought some great lunging sessions over jumps with him and two rides that showed me his best and worst sides. The big purchase of the month? A new saddle!

Me and the best crew ever (Charles, Saiph, Hannah) after completing Q's first 50

October: Q and I experimented with a jump grid/bounce setup some. Then I headed to the DC area to visit Saiph and Charles on my way to Cape May for my annual trip to band raptors. I had a blast on both parts of my trip. I was also quite crafty this month as far as equestrian thins went. Lots of interest in my craft pursuits led to a mondo-entry on how to tie your own rope halter. After months of rehab and preparation (including re-teaching Q to trailer), Q and I headed to Fort Valley for Q's first 50. It was amazing. Q was amazing. Our crew (Saiph, Charles, and Hannah) were incredible! I had few issues with gear for the ride.

Griffin exhibiting natural skill over a 3'3" vertical

November: This month I made an attempt to write every day. I worked Griffin a lot more this month, too. I began setting goals for him and getting him out to do something as much as I could. I introduced, belatedly to the blog, Hodor. I topped of my climbing season with a trip to the Red River Gorge and a final one to the New River Gorge where I finally managed to obtain photos of me climbing. Griffin's natural ability at jumping really became evident. What also became evident and obvious was the transition of his grey coat from dark to light over his 3+ years of life! I also confronted the problems each of my horses have had of late and the solutions I'm pursuing.

Blankenting during the continual wet or sub-30 degree-all-day-cold days this year since both horses have slight clip jobs.
Tail clamping and shivering is happening by ALL horses in the field on the days when its cold, windy, and rains all day.

December: December has become a whirlwind of activity for me. I'm back to working 7 days a week between my ski patrol job and my biologist position. I've gone on multiple 5-7 day stints without seeing the horses due to the intensity of winter that set in so quickly + being busy with jobs. I did celebrate 3 years of blogging. Both Q and Griffin are making progress with work in side reins though. I did get out in the frigid cold to do a 15 mile training ride with a friend and her daughter on their horses. But mostly its been snow and skiing and accepting that its okay to take a bit of a break.

Red River Gorge Climbing

Last week after work, Jeremy zipped by to pick Kenai and I up to head to the Red River Gorge (RRG) in Kentucky for a climbing trip. At ~6 hours away from home for me, its quite a surprise that I hadn't frequented this place for climbing prior - especially in college when I 1.) worked at a climbing wall, 2.) was friends with mostly climbers, 3.) was dating a climber, 4.) lived with all climbers.

Good things come to those who wait, or so the saying goes. And good things were quite plentiful on this trip!

1. Kenai was able to come. Jeremy was able to move things around a little from our original plan to adapt for the addition of Kenai. This trip was so wonderful for him. All the mini hikes into the crags were perfect rehab for him. We never hiked more than a mile (and rarely that) at a time. The terrain was equally up and down which was perfect for getting Kenai to incorporate all ranges of motion in his knees/hind limbs.

I was really apprehensive at first about the whole Kenai hiking thing. I worried it would be too much. He'd be sore. He'd be too stiff. More harm than good would be done.

A scared Kenai hiding under Jeremy after we made him climb up onto
a ledge

I'm really, really happy to report that I was wrong on all fronts. He was a little stiff and sore in the evenings, but he fared really well over all. He even got a rest day when we went to an area that forbid dogs.

Kenai LOVED this trip. It was so great to get back out with my little buddy like pre-surgery times. He was moving so much freer by the end of the trip. That casual, lofty trot of his was beginning to return!

2. I didn't have to camp in the cold. I'm on ski patrol. I very much enjoy winter. Snow is fun. HOWEVER, my body sucks at regulating its temperature and remaining warm throughout the winter months. As much as I love playing outside in the winter, I really appreciate a warm place at the end of the day to recuperate.

Jeremy rented us a room for the whole trip. Beds and heat. The first night I was chilled to the bone from being out at the crag until dark relatively unmoving as the guys worked a final climb. I was SO THANKFUL for heat and a place to hide away and regain warmth afterward.

Two queen beds, two desks, ample space for two people!

I have a feeling that if we had camped I wouldn't have regained warmth for the entire trip. I'd also not have been as happy a person to be around!

3. Great company. I've spent most of this climbing season out with Jeremy, which says a lot for how

great his company is. ☺ I [finally] got to meet his friends Jorge and Jess (and their dogs Lola and Rowan) on this trip.

Jorge and Jess live at Miguel's where we stayed. Jess works there and Jorge is [f]unemployed for the time being. Very strong climbers, the both of them. Really amazing people. Very, very fun. So much laughter.

Jorge is really flippin' incredible with dogs, too. He and Jess both. It was enjoyable for me to watch their interactions with their dogs and gain some insight for my own training methods for Kenai and other future dogs.

4. Lots and lots of climbing. I lost track of the climbing I did. It was a lot though. Many, many 10s. While uneasy about leading a 10 (right now), I did climb the majority of the 10s that we hit up cleanly or with only 1 or 2 hangs. This isn't too shabby for someone who hasn't been on rock for several months!

Rock amphitheater. Note the people (adults) at the center. HUGE formation.

Under the amphitheater, a little right of center in the preceding photo's point of view.

Rowan. Such a cutie.

Jeremy visualizing moves on a 12c project; I took this picture to show the ledge I was belaying from.

Overhanging cliff

Top roping a 9

Day one we climbed at Emerald City and I jumped on a 10d and 10c. Day two was at the Gallery and I jumped on a 9 and an 8 - maybe a 10, too? Day three was at Muir and I hopped on 4 or 5 climbs, though I don't remember what several of them were. Day 4 I climbed up something 6 times (twice on two climbs). Why twice? Because...

5. I finally confronted my fear of leading. In sport climbing (what we did this trip), there are bolted hangers for quickdraws (two carabiners connected by reinforced webbing) along the route. You place the draws as you ascend. These bolts are often 5-8 feet apart. This means that you have to climb past one before you're clipped into another. Thus, the max distance you could "fall" before the rope/draws "catch" you (your belayer on the ground below is key to the "catch") is the length of the rope above the last point of protection x2. (Climb 3 feet above the draw and "fall", it will be 6 feet before you cease the "fall".)

I'm afraid of the "fall". More specifically, I'm afraid of an unclean fall (i.e., I'm afraid of cracking some part of my body off the wall while falling thus resulting in greater injury).

My fear is irrational. I've recognized this for years. Until recently though, I've been unable and unwilling to confront it despite my understanding that it was silly.

Jeremy has been after me since spring to lead something. He tried over the summer but I spazzed and chickened out.

Not this trip.

Day 2 we climbed (I top roped) a really awesome 8. I told Jorge and Jeremy that I'd lead it in a day or two. It was a really straight-forward classic climb. The only place that was a tiny bit tricky (and even then, SO EASY for me) had a nice clean fall if I effed it up.

Day 4 dawned and Jeremy and I headed back to the Gallery where the climb I said I'd lead was. The wall this climb was on was really busy, so we headed under and through the amphitheater of rock to another wall with some available climbs.

Jeremy put up a really tricky/technical 10b first. I TR'd and then cleaned it. We then hopped on a 7 that I knew I could lead. Jeremy led it and placed the draws (per the norm) so that I'd have one less thing to worry about, and I climbed up after. Instead of cleaning the draws and rapping down though, he lowered me, pulled the rope through and I led it.

I knew I could do this climb. I'd just done it. Not to mention it was several grades lower than climbs I'd been climbing clean on top rope in previous days.

I toughened up, silenced my fearful mind, and lead the damn thing. I got a little shaky between the last two bolts and the anchors, but I took a moment, breathed, and pushed through.

It felt good to get it over with. So good.

I was really proud that I didn't freak out more than I did. Huge deal for me. I don't think Jeremy even realizes how huge that was for me. Its been 4 years since I led a climb, and even then I was borderline panic attack the whole time.

After the experience with my lead on the 7, we went back over to the now empty wall where the classic 8 was. Same song and dance: Jeremy led and placed draws, I TR'd, I led.

I didn't freak out at all.

I was calm. I used logic to calm my nerves. I had FUN.

I confronted fear and turned it into a form of excitement instead of terror. I can't wait to do it again.

5. I finally got to see the Red River Gorge. ...which was very different terrain-wise from the New River Gorge at home in WV. RRG cliffs are nestled in a series of valleys throughout the Daniel Boone forest. The cliffs at the NRG are all a part of the gorge system (one huge valley more or less).

In addition to seeing a lot of the RRG, I got to finally see the Natural Bridge, a unique rock formation within the RRG.

5½. Oh, and did I mention that it SNOWED? Because it did. Our last morning there we woke up to snow. Quite comical.

It made for a beautiful, easy little hike though.

The view of camp from the room the last morning

Our campground!

6. We ate really well. Good food = energy to do all the climbing we did. Miguel's pizza. The Rockhouse Cafe. A Mexican place one night. Sushi in Lexington another night. Yeah. I ate well. It was awesome. 

And thus, lots of good. Lots of fun. Lots of awesome.

Such an awesome trip. I had an absolute BLAST. Thank you, Jeremy for making this happen and pressuring me to lead finally. =)