Monday, June 18

Back at work.  Today is a full day.  The next 40/40 (40 days and 40 nights) team is coming in today, plus we have lots of other things to do.  I spent a good chunk of my morning scrubbing and soaking old climbing shoes that SROM loans to students.  Totally gross.  Then we did a tour of where we will be dropping water, food, and students in the Vedauwoo area.  Speaking of Vedauwoo, I had my first Wyoming climbing adventure yesterday!  After dropping off the first 40 group, a few of my coworkers decided to climb and invited me.  We went to a part of Vedauwoo called Browns (or Brown's Landing) and climbed a route that already had bolts in the rock to clip in to (that's called Sport Climbing I think).  One of the guys that was on Riley's Grand Canyon course gave me an overview of ropes and holds and stuff like that, then I got to try it myself.  The beginning and end were super fun, but in the middle I got very stuck.  I reached a ledge with a.... bump?... small overhang?... I don't know climbing terms yet, that I had to get over.  I stood on the ledge for probably fifteen to twenty minutes before I finally (with help) managed to hoist myself up and over (causing a nice scrape to my left pinky).  I made it to the top, and even managed not to cry when I had to lean over the edge to be lowered back down.  Most people think the down part is the most fun, I disagree.  Anyhow, I felt very proud of myself and thankful for the wonderfully encouraging and patient people that were with me.  Hopefully they will continue to take me climbing with them and I will get better.  By the way, the climb was a 5.8 for those of you who know what that means, or care (dad, ... probably Cori...).  After we climbed I joined my SROM buds for dinner, which was also relaxing.  Anyhow, day 1 back in Laramie with Riley in Durango was a success.  Now if you will excuse me, I have more stinky shoes to scrub...

-Ang

This is my butt.  I am repelling down this rock face which I just climbed.  I am also hanging on for dear life because I personally think that this is the most terrifying part.

This is where I camped out for most of my climb.  I did not get up from this pose, but we can pretend.  I did get up eventually.  Also, the bottom of this picture is not the ground, I am about thirty feet above my belayer (maybe, I am a bad estimator), just FYI.