Tent life. Early mornings. Endless cups of tea. A little bit of Work. Slowly, people drift from their tents into the kitchen to make their morning cup of coffee. Oatmeal, eggs, avocados, mangoes, more coffee, climbing plans. Mornings are usually slow here at Homeros, a small campground with a big community of dirtbags, from places like Ireland, Austrailia New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, and the States. After arriving in Potrero, I already felt welcome. Ran into old friends, and made new ones, all whom live out the days climbing, reading, playing guitar, and sleeping under the stars.
Josh climbing at the Virgin Wall
On this sleepy Friday morning, a group of us glance up at the large wall in front of us, where we spot the tiny dots on the wall, Derek and Chino, who are attempting to climb El Sendero Luminoso, the classic 15-pitch route (which Honnold notoriously soloed), half the pitches going at 5.12+. They've been up since 4am, in hopes to finish it by dinner time. Soon, we all file into Bob's van, drive down to the market for some fresh vegetables, tamales, and El Buho coffee. The market happens every Tuesday and Friday, and is crowded with stands filled with random goods ranging from combs to pokemon cards. Then, over at the tamale shop (that also sells thrifty clothing) Katelyn, Colum, and Bob enjoy delicious homemade food, while sitting on broken chairs and old crates. Post-market, we all wander over to El Buho, the local Christian-owned coffee shop with a friendly climber vibe.
Back at Homeros, we frequently look up toward El Toro, tracking Derek and Chino's progress. They're now about halfway, with most of the 5.12 climbing behind them. While it's a long day for them, it's a rest day for us, as we sip margaritas and dine on fresh guacamole.
View of Outrage Wall