Update on Everything

No secret I pay little attention to this blog.  All I post is the big stuff...this should count.  When I created this account, my first entry explained that I would be leaving my home town of Chattanooga within a years time.  At that point I had estimated I'd be out by September; now my departure is set for August and that's damn close!  After a year of debate, it looks like I'll be headed for Lander, Wyoming.  The details of what I was going to do when I got out west were vague to say the least, and although they haven't changed much I now have a starting point.  My buddy Matt, mentioned and shown in my entries about the Red River Gorge and the Obed, is going to school out there.  And although I don't know where I will find a job, having a room mate will make it loads easier to find affordable housing. 

School isn't out of the question anymore either. Two years ago when Matt joined the program, the Outdoor Recreation major offered in-state tuition to anyone in order to expand the department.  If that deal is still on the table, I may just take them up on it! Follow THIS LINK to check out the program.

In other news, the Ocoee season is picking up (about time!!!) and I am spending more time living at the outpost.  I had an epic trip the other day which involved surfing Grumpy's in high water; I won't go into that though...although I may post a photo later.  I attempted to attend a Wilderness First Responder course but after two weeks of showing up at different times on three different occasions the course was canceled.  That's about all I have for the moment.  Now go outside! Computer screens are bad for your eyes!

Taking it Easy at the Obed

Finishing off a month of climbing both at home in Chattanooga and at a few distant crags, me, Brea, Nick, and Matt crammed into the Ranger for one last road trip. The Obed is about 45 minutes outside of Knoxville (this is actually a complete guess) and features several sand stone sport crags as well as a descent size boulder field.  From May 24 - 26 we lounged at the Obed climbing one day on routes, one of boulders, and the third...we swam.  None of us were overambitious going into the trip and honestly after a month of climbing with only a handful of rest days, I was quite tired. Thus I was perfectly content to simply hang out with good friends in a beautiful place.  As the Dixie Cragger suggested, we camped at Del's.  The set up was awesome and the trip wouldn't have been the same had we not been exposed to the hospitality of Del and his wife Marte.  These two folks live completely off the grid and I have nothing but respect and admiration for them.  We will definately visit them again!

I managed to get some photos and video as well. Enjoy!