Long story short: I am finished with 4th year rotations, matched IM at University of Kentucky.  Rachel quit her job.  I didn’t redpoint Trebuchet (Philosophical/analytical post to follow soon).  Our time living in West Virginia has come to a close.  We are traveling for 6 weeks before graduation.  We drove out to Moab after finding a nice place to live in Lexington close to our friends Adam and Rachel.  The drive was was really long.  My energy drink sabbatical expired in Kansas.  Moab is amazing as always.  We met up with CHAD and have been boogying in Indian Creek the past several days.

This being my fifth(?) trip out here I find this place both the same and different in many ways.  Moab and IC were the first ‘destinations’ I ever went on a climbing trip to 8 years ago and for that reason, I hold them close to my heart.  Driving down the road here brings back hilarious memories.  Strange what comes to mind.  Eating strawberry ice cream on the street with Rios.  Playing foosball and drinking Wild Turkey at a dive bar at the age of 20 during Jeep Week.  Tony Bones declaring his gear was “so bad” but going for it anyways–on his first trad lead, Wavy Gravy.  Ian’s wobbler at the Optimator Wall and several hours later–his redemption.  Micah monkey slapping Rachel’s scabbed hands.  Throwing stones.  Trundling.  Good things.

One thing I don’t seem to recall was the pain.  Crack climbing hurts.  Sometimes a lot.  Rest days really are more for recuperation from the scrapes and bruises we get from climbing cracks than from actual fatigue.  Here are some photos from the trip so far.

We’ll try to revitalize this blog soon.

Cheerio!