New River Gorge

I feel like the trip has started to pick up! After spending so much time in the big cities, spending money, and eating terribly (so much sugary temptations around every corner), I finally think I've found solace again in the great outdoors.  After getting to the New River Gorge in Fayetteville, West Virginia, I met up with Brian and Neal who I met on the west coast a couple months ago.  They were kind enough to let me join in their tarp cave (pictured above) because it rained for days on end, the first week or so I was here. Brian is a graphic designer and has been on the road for over a year now.  Neal has been on the road for a few months, and he and Brian climbed together here last year.  Michael and Gabriel, from Austrailia dn Quebec respectively, are on a road trip making their way to Banff in Alberta for the winter season.  They arrived at the New River Gorge a day before I did, and they're super cool.  I like them alot! They're also heading to the Red River Gorge after this, as am I.  So I'll see them there! 

The New River Gorge is an interesting place.  The campground we're all staying at is owned by the American Alpine Club, 5$ a night, free showers, and you get your own campsite. There's people staying here long term.  They call 'em permies.  They've been here from the hot spring and summer and staying until the cold winter.  Most of them work in town at the gear shop, or at the Sandwich shop.  Some are rafting or mountain biking guides.  The rest of us are just passing through, using this place as home base for a little while.  It's nice, you start to get to know people and recognize people around town.  The New is pretty quiet compared to it's Eastern counterpart, The Red River Gorge, where everyone usually goes.  

My first day here was pretty difficult.  The routes I got on felt like it was bolted by a 6 foot plus person.  Every move felt super reachy, and it was pretty intimidating.  I got shut down on an 11a, and felt a little bummed! But eventually got back on it and sent it.  It took me a few days to get used to going for big moves.  I finally got the hang of it though and was able to climb more confidently! Then I managed to get on Tony the Tiger (11c), took a HUGE fall, I've never hit a wall so hard (my bum was bruised for days), but I got back on it and sent it second go!  I think I'm good at sending things second go.. not first go haha.

Anyway, more climbing to come! New friends, old friends, its all fun :) I'm looking forward to the Red! 

Will on Psychowrangler (12a) at Cottontop!

That time Michael cruised up Push (12a) at First Buttress in the Meadows

Brian on Rico Suave Arete (10a) at Kaymoor 

Michael working out the moves on Apollo (13a) at the Colosseum.  Alex Megos was just climbing on that rope in the background!  

silly camp table drawings

Everything is bigger in ... West Virginia? O_O

view from the office! 

Brian working the moves on Bimbo Shrine (11b/c) at the 7 Eleven Wall in Kaymoor

New York

Visiting Annie in Brooklyn was great.  I parked my car at the Campbell's house near Greenwich CT, then hopped on the train towards New York.  I was overwhelmed when I arrived in Grand Central.. I was so confused.  Coming from camping in the woods and small town life, it was a bit much to handle.  Manhattan was bustling, even at 11pm.  I guess the city is always awake.  

The following day, Annie hosted a birthday picnic in Prospect Park, and so many people showed up.  It was nice meeting all of her friends.  I spent the next several days doing my best to walk myself to exhaustion.  Took the subway a few times, but mostly walked throughout Brooklyn and lower Manhattan.  Met my editor, April, at Macmillan in Manhattan.  Also got to meet some peeps at Hornet NYC, who I've worked with in the past.  Makes me miss the studio life a little bit when I see people working on cool projects.  But then again... I also miss the woods! 

I basically just walked and walked, spent money, ate good food, spent more money.  Oh well! I suppose there's a time and place for everything.  It was really good to spend quality time with Annie.  I feel like we needed a good catching up! 

Flatiron building (the farthest  back)

Scrabble is the BEST

milk bar .. sweetest thing I've ever had...almost too sweet >_<

van leeuwen ice cream!

best cookies in town @_@

new york city!

The Klim family

I've known Mike Klim for 7 years now.  I met his parents, Ammer and Joe, in 2010 when Mike graduated college, and they were just as kind and welcoming and fun as I remember.  They just recently moved from New Britain where Mike grew up, to Niantic, a cute, quaint coastal Connecticut town full of friendly neighbors and charming little houses.  Ammer and Joe are radiant! They're living in a space perfect for the two of them.  The house has so much character and they already have plans to make it even more their own.  

I contacted Ammer on a whim, and I'm so glad I did!  It was so fun to hang out with them, it felt like seeing long-time friends again.  Spent the day wandering around town with Ammer and they took me to their studio space where Joe runs a paper engineering business.  Then we drove around town in their yellow Jeep Wrangler, and talked about anything and everything.  We dehydrated some fruits and veggies and played Scrabble :)  Such good times! I'm heading to the Gunks to climb after this, but honestly I wish I could stay longer!  

Cold noodles and good company!

Finally! Scrabble! 

dehydrating the fruits

batches of dried peaches, apples, mangos, figs, and pears!

sleepy Smore -  slept next to my head all night 

Ammer collects stones from the beach

Hannah

Boston! The land of ivy league schools, preppy kids, and cute little houses.  When I arrived, I met Hannah and her new fiance, Drew, on her front porch in Jamaica Plain, MA.  She lives on the third floor of a 3-unit apartment building.  It was great to see her again! I think it's been a while since we got to spend more than an afternoon together.  We went to a burger place, then got ice cream, which Drew so sneakily paid for.. but coincidentally it was the exact place they went on their first date.  Drew is a lovely guy, so fun and easygoing.  I love people who make you feel comfortable right when you meet them.  I'm so happy they found each other!

Hannah works at a bakery called Flour, in downtown.  In the hectic cafe/restaurant, Hannah is in the back decorating cakes and pastries.  She's not far from the Boston Public library, so I walked there afterwards.    Hannah's roommates were really nice too, to let me stay for 3 days!  They're also engaged, so there was quite a bit of wedding talk around the house! I'd love to stay longer, but I must keep moving! :)

boston public library

my first tequila shot with Hannah :) (check out the ring!)

Montreal

Driving through Eastern Canada was a big contrast from the west coast.  The scenery was flatter, the weather was dryer, and the people were much less friendly.  Maybe I just had poor timing, but I wasn't too excited about it to be honest.  However, Montreal was so charming and quickly made me feel better about the east.  The houses were cute and the streets were small, everything was in French, and the food was delicious!  I decided to stay in a hostel for the night, simply because the humidity had made it completely miserable to sleep in my car.  It's okay, my first hostel stay in 3.5 months, not bad. 

Ann Arbor

I finally arrived in Michigan, and thought it would be great to catch up with my Portland friend's Katherine and Brycin who just moved to Ann Arbor for grad school! They're lovely people, and were kind enough to let me crash on their couch, in their recently furnished apartment they moved into only days before.  On the first day of my trip, I was on a climb, and next to me a guy started climbing up and said hello.  His name was Sam, and he ended up introducing me a week later to his sister, Katherine, who was living in Portland.  It's kind of crazy how instantly connections can change the path you're on.  

They took me to a brewery, and we walked around University of Michigan where Katherine will be studying public health, and Brycin will be going into medicine!  They are very inspiring.  I can't imagine going back to school, but at the same time, I think it could be really fun.  I think they're pretty excited for the future though :)

banana grams :)

finally the rain came and took away the humidity for a while

yea, we took a selfie :)