My friend Bri updates her blog everyday and I think it really would be almost easier to do that so I wouldn't feel like I had so much to catch up on, but let's be honest, that's just not going to happen. So, now I've got three major things to catch up on. The summer on the river, my trip to Italy and Kenya and my 18 day private trip in Grand Canyon. So here goes....

I had a great summer working in Grand Canyon. I did 9 Grand trips and I got to do 2 high water Cataract Canyon trips and they were awesome! I worked in Moab on Cat for 5 years and the highest I'd ever seen it was 35,000 CFS (cubic feet per second) and I'd only driven it at 27,000 but a lot of the boatmen from Moab weren't coming back, and I'm a pretty big deal so they asked me to come back and do it and I was stoked for the chance to see it. Moab is a little bit of a shit show, and it makes me really glad to be down in the Grand.

The water was so high that the ramp we usually rig at was under water so we put in about 40 miles upstream from where we normally do and we got to do the Daily in our J-rigs.

It was pretty awesome idea, but it was really windy and the upstream white caps blowing water in our faces made the novelty wear off pretty quick.

So after picking our peeps up by the bridge we headed off. I really like the relaxing first day of a Cat trip and we did a lot of floating and swimming because the water was so moving so fast. The next day was rapid day .... du du du.... I hadn't really been too nervous about it until we saw Big Drop 2.

 It was pretty big and scary looking but it was awesome! Here's Newty running straight through Little Niagara. The second time through the next week I got washed out of the boat in "The Claw" and the park service was there filming but they have yet to put any of the footage online. They were both really great trips, but I was ready to get out of there.

I'm totally going to be one of those people for the rest of my life talking about how I got to see Cat at high water. It was awesome.

Long-time friends, new friends, gotta love them all!

Ok, so I started this blog, oh, maybe 3 months ago, and have put a line in here or there and I can't believe it's taken forever! But here it is. I want some more pics for it, but whatever, if I wait any longer there will just be too much to say and I'll never get it done, so here it is.... Thank you if you actually check back on my blog to see if I have anything and you haven't totally given up on me!

I have been really lucky to have great friends my whole life and I realize that this is not the case with everyone which makes me even more grateful to have such great girls in my life (And I say girls because I still feel weird saying "women" and I usually say "I went on a date with this boy" even if they're like 35 (which let's be honest, usually the boys I date are more boy than man and usually younger than me, but that's a whole different topic) but I like thinking that my girlfriends and I will always be "girls" together). I think it's sad that it sometimes takes something tragic event (Garrett's death) to motivate people to really do things to express their love for the people in their lives that really mean the most.

So, upon that thought I decided to do an east coast high school reunion extravaganza! My first stop was to Boston to see my friend, Bri. She and her husband just moved there last Dec. She'd only been in Utah for about a year and a half after living in CA for several years and I was pretty bummed when she left again. But it's good to see her life out there. She and Lee live in a great apartment close to trains to get everywhere. I really think that's something great about east coast life is being able to get everywhere walking or on public transport. I wish SL was more laid out for that anywhere else besides just downtown.

 The first full day I was there we drove up to Cape Cod. It was kinda dreary day and little cold, but it was really cool to see the Atlantic and just to see that place. There are so many cute little houses and I love the colored doors! They're awesome.

 Then back in Boston Bri and I did a bunch of walking around. We walked through these huge parks right by downtown and through the Beacon Hill neighborhood which is so cute, and I know there are honest good people living there, all of them! I had a little bar wallet type thing that just had a credit card, my driver's license and about $40. It was in the back pocket of my jeans and it had worked it's way up and out and had fallen out somewhere. By the time I realized it we had walked a walk at least an mile and a half or so and we retraced our steps but didn't find it. But sure enough, my parents got a packet from the Boston Police Dept with everything (minus the $40 which is fine! Take the cash, consider that a reward!) in it! I was so stoked! Luckily I had brought my passport so I could play squash with Annie in the Pentagon (you need two IDs, so that didn't get to happen which was a bummer) but at least I wasn't stuck out there forever! And my faith in the world has been revived!

I also got to be in Boston for the Marathon which was awesome. I am not a runner really, but it's really inspiring to see people that are that amazing and on top of their game. Here is the top American women, Kara Goucher. She took fifth over all I think. The whole city was out for it and it was really cool.

We ate out at a bunch of really nice restaurants and Bri made a great dinner and Lee made some eggs Benedict that were great and it was awesome to see their downtown city life, couple life style. Boston is a cool place to be. If I'd have to live in a city that would be the place to be.

So, from there I took an overnight bus through New York and ended up in DC at 9 in the morning. It was a little sketchy being in some random terminal at 3 AM in NY, but it was fine. I do like the bus. Internet the whole way, pretty comfy seats and it was about $43. So, I took the Metro and walked a bit to get to Annie's place. She and Justin were at work and I didn't sleep that well on the bus so it was perfect. Their doorman let me in to their apartment that from the balcony you can see all the way to the mall. The George Washington Monument is right there, it's awesome.

We just hung out and made dinner at home that day. Then Annie and I checked out bikes from these awesome kiosk things.

 We checked them out at one place by her house then rode into the mall then checked them in at a different station walked around then checked some out at a different place. It's pretty awesome. I've been to DC before and I would love to be able to live close to all those great museums. I'd love to go to one a week and get so smart! I went to the Natural History Museum and I geeked out over all the rocks. Then we went to the Air and Space Museum. 

There was so many more places I wanted to go.

It was the PERFECT time to go to DC because there were sooo many great flowers! it was amazing!

The Vietnam War Monument was really amazing and the Korean War one is really cool.

And the FDR Monument is really cool. I'd never seen it before and there was tons of quotes all over that were super relevant to what's going on today, it was really cool.

So, after hanging with Annie and her husband, Justin, Annie and I headed to the zoo to meet Anne. Traffic was CRAZY! It really took us 45 minutes to go like half a mile and I ended up getting out of my car and walking into the zoo with all my bags and everything. The zoo is free and it was soooo crowded! I couldn't believe it. It was a cool zoo though. Here's the lions that were all really awake and playing around and really cool.

So Anne and Evan and her two kids live an hour (in normal traffic, 2 1/2 on the day we went) away from DC. It rained a lot of the time I was there. We went to a sweet yard sale and I scored on several things, one of which was this amazing onsie!

We hung out and it's a total eye opener to be around families for whole days at a time when these kids are looking at you like, OK, what's next, what are we going to do next? And you have to entertain them every minute of the day. It kinda boggles my mind that moms can do it. It reinstalled my respect and awe for parents going to Anne and Kristine's houses. We played games with the kids and rode bikes int he street with Cam. It was also a great time to be there. 

 

All the trees on her street were amazing! I especially love this one with the one broken down house in the whole neighborhood and this sweet tree outside.

From there I flew to Indianapolis to see Kristine. I should have visited her when she was living in Grenada, but Indiana was pretty cool I guess. The first night we rollerbladed around this canal that went right through downtown and it was really cool. The next day was Easter. When I talked to her about being here at that time she apologized about having to be there over the holiday, and I was like "are you kidding me! Spending a holiday like that with kids is great." and it was. I helped Kristine pack Easter eggs and set out their Easter outfits. And went to church with them (I'm pretty sure parents don't really ever get to listen to a sacrament meeting ever) and Dave made a great dinner for us. It was really great to be there and to see her kids and get to know them better. It always makes me sad when me friend's kids don't really know me. Of course Kristine and I stayed up talking until like 2 in the morning and got out old year books and reminisced and stalked people on facebook. 

Crepes for Easter breakfast, it was quite a spread!

The trees were amazing everywhere! Here's Kristine, pregnant with her 4th, a little girl on the way

Maddie and Tyler were great to pose for pictures with me.

Maddie could have posed all day!

It was so awesome to get to spend that time with all my good old friends. I sure am lucky to still have them in my life even though we are all leading such different lives now. 

That being said, since they all are so different and in different places I'm really lucky to have met some great people along the way in the last few years. The friends I have made on the river will be some of the best friends I'll ever have. Spending days and nights on end and all the really good times and really salty (salty is our word for grumpy and pissed) times together really makes for a good friendship. My friend Jess was getting married (since I started this forever ago she has gotten married since then) and we did a bachelorette trip for her down to Moab. It was such a fun trip.

Harriett and I went down a day early to get a camp spot. I sure love packing her up for an adventure

Then they all came the next day. I love the desert because it's not humid. I love being able to just set your bags out on the ground (on top of my 3" Princess Pad paco of course!) and leave books out and things don't get ruined! 

 

 This is one of my favorite campsites ever! The LaSals in the back ground with snow on them and Fisher Towers, it's great. The first day we did the Daily, and it was great. Jos brought her boat down and we all loaded up and did a bunch of floating and chillin. 

Jess and Kristina and Jos and I all have been guides, not all together but it feels like it. That's how I met all these girls and I love the bond that that gives our friendship. 

We were missing our friend Molly, though. Our moms are friends and I've known who she is but we really got to know each other when she worked as a guide. She's got 4 older siblings that are closer to my age, but she's my favorite and only sometimes when I make a comment about Jem and the Holograms or my puffy painted rollerskates do I remember that yes, I am in fact at least 5 years older than most of these friends. But doesn't matter to me, really. But Molly decided that it would be hard for her to be there and she didn't want to take away from the fun of it, so she didn't come but we were really thinking about her and Garrett while we were down there. We missed her! 

 

Jess's little sister and her other friends Katie and Megan came and it was really great. We went into town and heard Stonefed and ate Sushi at our friends restaurant (if you go to Moab go to the new sushi place! It's really good and they have some really cool, unusual rolls and it was started by a river guide turned business owner, I know, right? it can actually happen)

The next day we went biking. Long story short I had to rent a bike while I was down there and I LOVED it! It spoiled me sooo bad! We did the Baby Steps trail and it was a really cool trail. Katie hadn't biked very much and it was a little tough, but she did great. My brain usually complains a lot on the uphill but I usually put up with it so that I can do the down but this trail was fun enough and I was working hard to keep up with Jos and Kristina so it was really fun. I didn't have my camera so I'll try to round up some pics and put them on here.

Over all it was a really great weekend. I really love those girls. We have so much fun together and I love having girls that I can play outside with that will push me to be motivated to get outside and I know these will be friends I will have forever! 

Here's some pictures from Jess's wedding.

This is Jos, Jess, me and Kristina. I've now known Jos for 8 years and the others pretty close to that. I really hope we'll always keep each other young!

Here's Joselyn and her boyfriend, Dustin.

Kristina did in fact catch the bouquet, so she's officially on the prowl. She did however loose it before we left so I don't know what that means.

Bottom line: I LOVE MY FRIENDS!!! THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF MY LIFE!!!

Month off

I think that someday when I get a real job I'll be ready to just work for a whole year at a time. But as for now, I LOVE having a seasonal job and usually I get a month or sometime off just to hang out and travel or play. This last month was really hard because of crazy accident with Garrett. I do admit that I've felt guilty about having fun. I've been able to hang out with Molly a couple times and she is really amazing. I know it's been really hard for her and everyday is a new battle, but she is going to move to Malad, Idaho and take care of a ranch up there. She is amazing and my heart goes with her. I know there is nothing I can do to bring him back, but hopefully I'll be able to be there for Molly if she ever needs to talk about Garrett and laugh about him and hang out with some girls.

The weekend before Garrett died I was in Torrey, Utah with some friends. Tony did an internship for Physical Therapy school in Australia and he had met a really cool couple of New Zelanders that had come to visit. They'd been snowboarding a bunch and having a great time in Salt Lake City, and a family that lived across from Tony's parents, said we could go stay at their amazing lodge called Cougar Ridge Lodge in Torrey, Utah. They had worked on this place for the last 4 years and they had designed it and it was seriously unreal. 

 This was the view from the top floor to the kitchen. Everything was totally put together exactly the way they wanted.

There was over 40,000 square feet of rock in the place in the outside and floors in the inside. 

This awesome center piece was made from some of the biggest Mesquite trees I've ever seen. 

Gary and Tammy had their own little cabin tucked in around the corner with a trout pond in front.

 They have a herd of Longhorn Cattle that were really cool to see up close.

Here's Ashley in an old shack. There was so much to do at the place it was hard to get outside but we walked around and checked out some old abandoned things.

Ashley's friend, James is a yoga instructor and we did a little session and it was great. Yoga's the perfect thing to do on a cloudy day!

We had a relaxing evening playing the guitar and hanging around the fire. 

Here's Jarrod from New Zeland with some Australian wine and Brazilian granite.

They actually have a bowling alley in the basement! Full with balls of all weights and shoes of all sizes.

Here's Ashley showing us how it's done.

They're going to put in a vineyard and they've got a wine cellar in the basement. They're going to have classes about wine and beer brewing.

And a full culinary kitchen. Rachel Ray was going to do a show there but she canceled at the last minute. They want to have cooking weekends / classes there and painting and metal working (which they have a full welding room and metal working room) seminars.

Huge outside BBQ. 

There was a steam room with three shower heads and a sauna.

We had to finish off the weekend in America with some shooting guns.

After we left there, we drove through Bryce Canyon, which was pretty amazing for Jarrod and Amy to see. Even thought it was covered in snow it was really beautiful!

We drove through Zion right at sunset and it was really great to see that with snow on it also. We were going to hike Angel's Landing the next day then go climb in St. George, but we ate dinner when we got to Zion and Caitlin called me and told me the first report of Garrett, so we left early the next morning and the rest is in the last blog.

I had been working at backcountry helping out with the AR (Accounts Receivable department) for the last 2 or 3 weeks. It had been extremely boring work doing a lot of copying and pasting and watching tons of hulu. So, I was glad that that was almost over so I could spend time at the hospital with Molly. After that I pretty much didn't go into work, except to clean out my desk. I was pretty ready to be done.

The next weekend I went to Indian Creek with Joselyn and Wren. It was sooo great to get down to the desert. It took forever for Jos and me to get out of Salt Lake and to Jos had only slept 3 hours and she had to do like 3 U - turns to get us on the right road to Moab. We heard there was a band playing at Woody's so we ended up making a cameo appearance and felt like superstars coming back into our home land. We stayed with some friends in Moab then headed to the Creek in the morning.  

I swear the clouds always look this great.

Here's Jos on Wavy Gravy. It was her first time really crack climbing and she wasn't loving it but I think it grew on her a bit and she ended up liking it I think.

I love car camping! Being able to bring a big kitchen and tons of fresh veggies and stuff to make awesome meals. At first you want something super quick when you get to camp and you're starving but when you take the time and make something good, it always tastes way better than it would have at home.

Jos and Wren enjoying the sun in the morning at camp.

I was surprised that my ankle didn't really hurt that much when I was climbing. It was pretty sore after but I think it's wasn't too bad. I only let myself to 2 routes a day and my head really isn't into leading anything yet. And even if I wanted to I haven't climbed in 6 months and my body was worked! Crack climbing takes so much energy! and I LOVE it! It felt great to be climbing again. So, Wren pretty much lead everything and did great. Here he is on Binau's Crack.

Here's Jos on the Chocolate Corner.

 JW and some of Garrett's other friends had some bracelets made for the funeral. They say Garrett Smith and have his Hammer's Inc Photography logo on one side, and the other it says Life by Passion. I really have never been a huge fan of those type of bracelets. I think they're pretty trendy and kinda overdone, and they're a little big for how I like to wear bracelets, but I think it's a great tribute to him. One of his other friends posted a picture on facebook of his fist and bracelet as the sun was coming up when he went touring one morning so I think it's cool to have pics of places we are when we're thinking about an missing Garrett and climbing is definitely going to be one of those things for me. (...and 'Life by Passion'? that grammar is a little off, but whatev, I'll let the voice of Grandma Grey fight that one in the back of my head, but I won't listen)

 Jos starting to feel the love of the crack!

The last day Jos and I were pretty beat and I'd done my 2 climb quota so she went for a run and I went for a bike ride and we came back to camp. After hanging out for a bit we remembered some dude told us about some ruins behind our camp. We looked up and couldn't believe we hadn't seen them before. It was a bit of a scramble and some bouldering to get there but they were probably the coolest ruins I've ever seen.

They hadn't been maintained at all and I'm sure they're not in any book and they were so intense!

Here's me in front of one side and there's Jos in front of the other side of a 3 story little house! It was sooo cool! The sticks sticking out of the middle make up the floor.

It's crazy to think that these are around 1000 years old! And they're still in really great shape! But also to think about the cathedrals in Europe that were being built at the same time. That kinda boggles my mind.

Pretty unusual pictographs, what's left of them anyway, but I've never seen ones like the thing on top.

Some pretty intact pottery shards and there was also some maize cobs in a different spot.

Jos enjoying the spirit of the place!

Overall it was a pretty great trip! I just love the first trip to the desert in the spring. We left SL in a blizzard and it was a disaster going over the pass in Spanish Fork Canyon and we were wondering why we didn't just stay home and ski, but it was perfect weather and just so great to sleep in a sleeping bag (sorry my talking kept you up Jos and you didn't sleep as well as me!), wake up to the sunrise, do yoga in the morning, climb and hang at the crag and bike, and eat dinner as the sun is setting. Pretty much can't ask for more than that! I'm getting stoked for the summer!