This sport, which we are all passionate about, has been a part of my life for over 38 years now. To be perfectly honest, climbing has ALWAYS done it for me. I tried numerous other adventure sports...none of which came close.

With everything going on in life, however, climbing is more in the background in my life now, even though I still climb regularly. It just isn't quite the need for me, like it has been in the past.

Today was one of those days that brought back SO many memories, and reminded me what is truly at the heart of climbing for me now...sharing it with my family.

My daughter Micah (18), just returned a week ago from a two month stint working at our orphanage in Ecuador. Micah is an adventurer at heart, and THE funnest person I have ever traveled with....especially to Third World nations.

Now she is off once again next week, moving to Ventura to begin college, studying to be a Pediactric Nurse. Before she returned from Ecuador, and during one of our Skype conversations, she told me in no uncertain terms, that before she left for school, we were gonna have to hit Tuolumne Meadows.

We wolfed down dinner last night, then drove up to the Meadows and 'invited' ourselves into a campsite with a young man traveling to the Bay Area while repping for a mountain bike company. (We bribed him with firewood, ice cream, cash, and stimulating converation :) Had a great time!

Up early, Micah and I fired down our oatmeal and headed for Mariuolumne Dome, for a date with the Euro Trash/Hobbit Book link-up.

Euro trash is a fine 4 pitch face route, with just a bit of 5.9 on the last pitch, and ascends the grey/white wall between the trees in the pic below....and offers a diretissima to the ramp leading to Hobbit Book....


We dashed up the approach and I began leading just after 8 a.m....


Micah cruising the 1st pitch....


Top of the 1st...hmmmmm...wonder where that personality comes from????


...and above the crux moves on the 4th...


In perfect weather conditions, we made the traverse of the 4th class ramp which leads to the start of the business on Hobbit Book....here's Micah on the 1st...


...and at the belay at the top of the 1st....


She LOVED the fine rock of the 2nd pitch.....



....then got to the belay at the base of the run-out 3rd and began scoping the moves....


....joining me at the belay for a snack and a fine view...


She whooped and hollered as I cruised up those gorgeous plates on the face, then followed in kind, hollering with excitement all the way up this fine pitch.....


...and styled the crack...


....then braved a photo with the old guy at the belay....


....and she FULLY enjoyed the belay to start the 4th....


...here she is again, showing a tad of personality while following the last pitch...



....and really enjoyed the last moves to the summit...


Such a glorious summit too!!!!!!


...and some old fart showed up to coil our rope....


What an absolute dream.....to climb a stellar route with this special girl whom I am so proud of....


....she is about to fly away again, but I reminded her that this extraordinary place we both love, Tuolumne Meadows, will be waiting for her to come back and enjoy....and I will be ready to share that rope with her ANY TIME!!!!!!


A day both of us will never forget.......


Love you Micah.....my heart is full!!!!!!!!!!




Good Climbing,
Dean Rosnau

P.S. Car to car in 4:45.....we rocked it!!!!!!