Adventures around Climbing

Day 6: Little and Small: Ken and I were going to climb at Smoke Bluffs. Because of the rain we did not want to climb a multi pitch. There are lots of climbs I would like to try but the weather just didn't allow for it. We did four climbs at the same crag, Penny Lane. We wanted to climb a multi pitch next to the Zombie wall but it started raining. Ken talked with other climbers about different places they've been. Every climber I've met has big trips under their belt. It is very intimidating being here, but makes me want to stay and learn more. Some of the other places they talked about were, Windy Rivers, Joshua Tree, Red Rocks(Vegas), Bugaboos, there were lots more. I tried to take mental notes to which places I wanted to visit.

Climbing in the Smoke Bluffs

Climbing in Squamish

Day 5: Thursday May 30, 2013. I really wish it would stop raining.

New beginnings: I was grumpy when I got up. I was feeling a bit homesick, and a bit scared again.  As I was finishing breakfast, I saw Ken. I offered him a ride into town. We talked about climbing crags at Malamute. The weather was nicer and I still hadn't gone climbing on this trip for real so I thought it was a great idea. By this point my mood had started to change, I really think I was just grumpy because I was hungry and tired. We started out with a slab. I believe it was Malamute North wall. Then we moved to the Starr wall.

This was the view from the Starr Wall

I really did need some time by myself so I used this opportunity to go off to do some biking. I tried another blue square route called the Rollercoaster. I expected it to be somewhat like the route from yesterday, but it was tame. Still it was fun and short, so I did it twice. I returned to camp, and made myself a dinner.

Tomorrow Ken and I are going to do crags at smoke bluffs. I hope the weather is good for Ken and I. I am still feeling tired and a bit homesick. I really hope I don’t get burned out. I should increase my calorie intake.

Fear

Day 4: Overshadowed by Fear. During this trip I've been reading about Dietrich Bonhoffer. He was a man who knew what fear was, and how to stand firm in the face of it. Today I faced fear, a different type though, and definitely not as serious or grave. Until today I've never biked a trail. I've always wanted to but never new how to get into it. I drove on a logging road, which was still in use. I then I bike up for about an hour and a half. I got to the top of a Trail called the Half Nelson. On the map it was a blue square run. I got ready and started my decent. 

Trail map I purchased

The sign where Recycle trail split off the Half Nelson

After not very long there was a fork in the road. A route split off to the right called the Recycle. As a novice biker, I still have to learn my limits, especially on a new route. There was a hairpin turn that was unbanked, and blind. My front wheel locked and I understeered. I slid off the trail and my bike hit the tree and stopped. I flew over the handlebars and I hit my head on a branch breaking the branch and I jerked to a halt. I looked down to a good 30m fall. Fear. The roots of the tree I was caught on were exposed and I used them to climb back onto the trail. My nose started bleeding. A small scratch on my knee and a 5 minute nose bleed was all I suffered. I picked up my bike and continued. After I the crash my gear selector had broken off. I didn't realize this until after I reached the bottom of the trail and tried to shift down to repeat the ride. I walked back to my car, disappointed. 

Mud and Blood after the Half Nelson

I dropped off my bike for repairs, will cost 140 for the repair. I'm waiting now and have returned to my campsite at the chief. I have just explored the base area a bit more and will go on a quick hike until I get a call about my bike.

My view from the top of the Chief was about the same no matter where I went.

My campsite is very cool. It is at the very base of a face of the Chief, which looms over it, but between my camp site and the face is a rock. At first notice this rock looks small, by comparison to the wall, but when I walked up to it, this thing was at least 30 ft tall. It even had a cave beneath it that I could walk into. This boulder while grand was just overshadowed by the Chief, making it small by comparison. While exploring, I found a small path that went up the face. It soon turned into a scramble and had ropes somebody had left from a rappel. it looks as if they brought one single rope but had to make a 60m rappel. I climbed up most of this section. I wanted to see the top of it. But I got scared. I had already had a near death experience today, I didn't need two. This time fear made me turn back. 

Right behind my camp-site was this beast. Behind it the Chief.

I hiked the Chief trail to the first peak I call about my bike while I was up there. I got back and picked up my bike and returned to camp. After updating my diary, I made spaghetti and met Ken. He is from Maryland. I don't remember much about him accept him complaining about getting stopped for an hour at the border. I guess I would be pretty upset if that happened to me. After eating spaghetti and sandwiches I headed out back to the trail that I had done earlier. Biking was fun. After I got back a group of Quebecers invited me to join them bouldering. Their Anglicized names were Oliver, Antoine, PL, Oliver(two of them were named Oliver) and Luka. One of the Olivers is camping next to me. Antoine, Oliver and Luka were camping together. The three travelling together were very good at bouldering, so was PL. I don’t know if Oliver was any good. They spoke french most of the time, but the Oliver who climbed well told me that Climb on had shoes on sale. I will go tomorrow to see if I can buy a pair, and hopefully chat with the cute clerk.

Peaceful Unrest

Day 3: The begining of a Journey. I participated in a sitting ritual, lead by the owners of Oasis Hostel Ivan and Yulin. They were talking about zen and energy and stuff. Ivan talked about how it was a time to listen. 

Sitting Room

After the sitting, Yulin served us eggs toast and cantalope for breakfast. I met and ate with guest who were staying in the other room, Cameron and Matthew. 

Cameron found an ambitious hike, Elfin Lakes, that he wanted to attempt but it was to far for him to walk. Cameron and I decided to hike Elfin Lakes. The two of us left the Hostel at around ten o'clock. The drive to the approach on a fun logging road. I drove gingerly as I did not want to damage my vehicle. We passed by Quest University, It looks like a nice campus

The approach to the hike was very nice. We talked about his family, and where he was from. We stopped at a cabin about an hour in, which is used by back country skiers in the winter. It was raining the entire time we were there and the hike was so foggy that there was no view. We decided to turn back because there was also a lot of snow slowing us down and because there was no view meaning neither of us was really that motivated to complete the hike. We were both disappointed but I still enjoyed the hike. We didn't talk much on the way back; I think we were both pretty tired. 

Cameron in beside a waterfall on Effin Lakes hike

I drove to the Chief camp site and immediately met another climber who was climbing alone. I set up my tent in the stall next to his.As I was bringing my sleeping bag to my tent I met Adrian. Adrian had been in Squamish one day longer than I was. He is travelling alone as well, and we talked about climbing together on Thursday or Friday. 

The base of the chief

The Road the Squamish

Day 1. Learning how to talk. This morning the original plan was all the way to Squamish, but I still didn’t have a place to stay. I had also furthered my delay by making a three hour stop at Heart Creek Trail to sport climb. I only got to climb two climbs and I realized how out of practice I was. Still, I enjoyed this as it was a new experience for me, climbing with strangers that I meet on the spot. I met Dave and his friend, as well as Daniel, Terry and one more person; I can’t remember all the names.

Heart Creek with my good friend Esteban

Instead of Squamish I made it to Richmond BC, and stayed with my friend Joy. Shuswap lake was very pretty. I wish I could own a boat there.

Day 2. I spent the day with Joy, who should have been studying. I felt bad because she needed to study, but I was also very glad to have a friend today. We drove around Vancouver, and biked at Stanley Park. It was very pleasant. We got lost for a few hours.

A picture of Joy and I

On my drive I enjoyed the Beautiful British Columbia coastline. The fog setting in because of the rain looked amazing. I stopped on the side of the road to take it in, and then joined a group of five mountain bikers, who were making a stop on their way to whistler, in some hacky-sack. We didn’t talk much; I asked them where I could bike in Squamish. One of them was also named Scott, he was also a climber.

On the road to Richmond by Salmon arms

I found a hostel, for tonight. It is run by a nice couple, Yulin and Ivan; they invited me to join on their meditation tomorrow morning. I accepted and told them I will be using the time for prayer.

Ivan and Yulin

Going without a plan

I've always wanted to travel. Still do. I yearn for adventure. Most of my friends have taken gap years or semesters in their life to travel to somewhere exotic and I was just waiting for my turn.


Instead of travelling to another continent I decided to travel around the very country I lived in. Most of Canada was and still is unknown to me so it made more sense to travel in Canada. I bought a Nissan Xterra for my trip. 3.3L 4x4 5speed. Here is a picture of it in action in Squamish.

My trip was designed to take myself completely out of familiarity and comfort. The itinerary simply included cities and how long I was staying there. I did not plan where I was sleeping or who I was spending the day with.

The plan was to leave Calgary May 25 and return June 8th then leave again on another trip to Jasper to return June 13th.