San Diego 8/22/09

Patrick and I went to Meaney home base in San Diego last weekend. Here are some photos from our trip. (Not pictured: either of the two car smogging expeditions).

It's hip, it's new, it's Tree Football:


Patrick and Jack working the dead tree in the front yard loose:


Jack takes a swing at the stubborn stump:


Aggression against the tree is sublimated into feats of strength:


Even Mom got in on the action:


Huaaah!


"Tada!"


We bought this enormous skull at Costco, and realized we could never cut the tree down if we wanted to have the spookiest front yard on the block. Be sure and watch the video at the bottom of this entry for audio!




Mosie, in a moment of reflection:


Definitely the best thing we saw on the drive home: a doggie with sunglasses on!


Took a few videos too:
Dancing to Scooter
Jack in tree

Thomas in tree

Skullie

Point Dume partie deux

On Saturday, August 15th, we went back to Point Dume for more.

We lead-climbed our first route, and sent (climbed successfully) our first 5.10. Ow!

We got there around 9 and took off around 6. Met some cool folks, and had a lot of fun.

Here's a Video of Thomas being lowered after completing Center Route.

The wildlife gets a little to close for Patrick's comfort:


I look so much braver on the ground than when I actually get on the rock. Then the puling and whining start...big time:


The route on the right (green rope) is the 5.10 I was able to climb. Patrick didn't get a chance, 'cause the person whose rope we were on had to leave, and we didn't feel like setting up an anchor of our own, but it'll be there next time:


Surely this is the dorkiest picture of me there is:


Composite photo of "Oceanside", the south-facing side of Point Dume (where the hard routes are):

Point Dume!

Last Sunday (8-9-09) Patrick and I went top roping at Point Dume up in Malibu. It was amazing! The site itself is absolutely beautiful: a big volcanic rock right in the middle of this beautiful sandy beach. There was foot access to the anchor points at the top, lot of solid bolts to set up anchors on, and some really cool routes at our skill level (beginner/tyro/noob).

All the other climbers we met were incredibly nice, too. We’ll definitely be back.

Patrick gets his climbing sneer warmed up:


Looking up The Arete (5.6):





Patrick while belaying me on The Arete:


"Hay! I'm on a rock!"
"Hay! I'm belaying!"



Patrick on The Arete:



Patrick at the top when we went to switch our anchor:



Rope mgmt:



Thomas during the anchor swap:



High-tech composite shot of Point Dume as we were leaving:



Here's a video of Thomas rappelling.

Section of Backbone Trail and Bouldering at Miniholland

So last Sunday Patrick and I hit a sort of random section of the Santa Monica Backbone Trail, starting at the Zuma Trancas parking lot (see route below). Then we headed northwest to this trailhead by Encinal Canyon Road where we turned south and powered up this steep fire road to Buzzard's Roost Ranch. That was the "cardio" portion of the hike.

Then we walked up Encinal Canyon Road a little ways and saw some kind of water treatment facililty as well as a camp run by the LA Probation Dept (this section was less nature-y).

Then we headed back to the trailhead, but made a little diversion to try to check out a dry water fall (in purple below). We got sort of close, but were thwarted by thorn bushes and poison oak.

It should be noted that this section of the Backbone Trail has more poison oak than we've ever seen in one place. Beware!

Then, we headed over to a bouldering site we'd heard about called Miniholland, where, after a refreshing meal of warm water, bagels, and peanut butter, we crawled around on Boulder 2 for awhile. It was very cool. Great rock, a little shade, and we had it all to ourselves.





The view from Buzzard's Roost Ranch:


Patrick near the top:


Thomas tries not to look winded:


Patrick is grossed out by the green pool in the background (that was the water treatment facility):


Thomas assesses things on Boulder 2.


"If I put my fingers here, and push with my toes, and makes lots of little whiny noises...I go up!"


The sun was a bit bright once you got to the top:


The butt shot:


Two hours later; I'd moved up 4 feet:


Conquered the rock!


Patrick gets ready to the leap all the way to the top in one fluid, beautiful bound:


There was not a lot for the footsies here:


"Okay...now how do I get down?"


I finally made it down when Patrick promised me ice cream. (He never got me any ice cream, though. See if I fall for that one again!)


The view of the ocean coming down out of the Santa Monicas:

Trip to San Diego and Mission Gorge

We went to San Diego last weekend. It was sweet.

We went down to the Book Project (where we sort through book that going to get trashed and send the good ones to people who need books: schools, nursing homes, etc.) and did a little work.

Here Karen, Marty, and Mom show pose among the palettes:


Patrick and Jack take a lunch break:


Then we went home for some dinner and Scrabble.

Mom makes a delicious signature salad:


Dad pretends he's diving the Great Barrier Reef:


Patrick and Jack playing der Scrabble:


Jack enjoys our al fresco family dinner:


Then we woke up early on Sunday to go climbing at Mission Gorge.

This was my first time setting my own anchors and climbing on them. Thanks to the advice of friend John Vawter and John Long's book on anchors, we all survived. It was a little harrowing, though, rappelling off an 80-foot cliff on the first anchor I ever tied, when the last time I rappelled was 15 years ago in the Boy Scouts!

Patrick looks like he might still be a little groggy:


"You tie in with..like...the rope...and knots...I think."


View looking down from near the top of The Tower:


Same view with telephoto:


Thomas on The Tower:


View of Patrick and Mission Gorge midmorning. I wonder where the creek is...:


Not sure what Jack's pointing at here...maybe he saw a spider:


Jack cranks through the tough first few moves on The Steps:


Thomas demonstrates how not to never take your eyes off your climber while belaying:


Jack gives a thumbs up on The Steps: