I just got back from a quick mid-week trip to the Valley with my friend Faith. This is only my second “outside” climbing since last November, when I fu%*ed up my left arm and shoulder, and although I feel out of shape, it sure feels wonderful to climb on real rock again. We climbed at Pat & Jack’s, Manure Pile, and Church Bowl, thinking those areas would be dry. They were, but since I’m not much for taking photos when climbing, I’ll forgo the blow by blow. I posted a little commentary about the half day at Pat & Jack’s in the “Bonehead’s” thread.

We had great weather and the Valley was gorgeous. Two events stand out: On the way back to the car from Manure Pile, we saw the biggest bear either of us had ever seen! It was easily 350 pounds. Its fur was gorgeous and clean and shimmery reddish-brown. The other mind-bending event was that when we arrived at the base of Bishop’s Terrace, there was NOONE ELSE THERE. At 9:30 AM. That might qualify for inclusion on the Guinness Book of World Records.





My Mythos were over at the Rubber Room being resoled, so I decided to use a very old pair of retired gym shoes that had gotten loose enough to walk around in comfortably. I figured they would be fine for easy crack and face. Here's what they looked like at the end of the trip!