Advertisement
Published: March 20th 2006
Edit Blog Post
You never know how hooked you are on everyday things, until they are gone. Having no internet about drove me over the edge. Sad. I know. But really, what did I do before internet? We don't have a TV. No matter what, I've always, at least had an idiot box. I'll be the first to admit a sick addiction to "Reality" Tv,MTV, VH1, The Food Network, The OC, John Stewart....That 70's Show. Hey! I can't help it. Its entertaining. When you've been out of touch, those "stupid" shows become valuble. At least for me. Adam could go with out it.
We spent 15 days in the southern part of the Sierra Nevada. Mostly in a town called Kernville (120 mi north of L.A.). "The Gateway to the Sierras." Other than a small square, a park, and a brewary "opening soon" there didn't seem to be much there. We drove along side the River Kern until we came to a large dirt lot to pull off. This became our home for over a week. It was nice. We had the river on oneside and on the other a large, steep hill full of boulders. In the distance you could see the snow
Lake Isabella
We stayed overnight in this spot off the road on the way to Kernville capped mountains. Very relaxing, very pretty.
The weather was out of control. It never knew what it wanted to do. It would rain on one side of the street, be sunny on the other...and then the wind would start and so would the snow. Crazy. The second and third days there it just rained. Leaving us, for the first time, stranded in the RV. No internet, no tv. I finished my book, and was left reading old issues of Rock & Ice and Climbing. Which is all fine and dandy, but both Magazines are filled with stories of climbing accidents resulting mainly in death. These things happening to experienced climbers. Careful climbers. Most articles said things like, "how could this happen..." and "he was SO careful." Some people, were repelled off their rope, some the anchors let loose, some slipped off ledges....you know. ANYTHING is possible, no matter how "careful" you are. Thats what I read for 2 days! On the 3rd day, the sun came out. I knew what that meant. It meant that I had to climb...my first rope climb of this whole trip. I was so sick of being in the RV that I was almost
The River Kern
This is where we stayed for about 2 wks excited to accept the challenge. We grabbed our gear and headed across the street. The hike to the base of the face I'd climb was so sketchy, that it diserved it own grade. With each step we took we had to be careful of loose rocks that would tumble down the STEEP hill. And sometimes, you put your foot down and the ground would just brake away. We also needed to be careful of the ticks...the many many ticks.
The hike was short however, and we reached the base in no time (and in one piece!). I looked up at the challenge. No PROBLEM!! It's graded a 5.6, and I've climbed harder. (5.6 to most is like a kids jungle gym....hey its new to me!). It was a sport route. WHich means that there are set bolts in the face and as the leader (Adam) climbs he clips quickdraws (2 carabiners on each end of a sling)into the bolts and brings the rope up threw them. It will be my job to collect the quick draws on my way up...confused? me to. So Adam climbs, in his approach shoes...this should be easy! He gets to the top anchor and
sets up for me. I grab my end of the rope and start to tie in...except, i forgot how to tie myself in. Hmmm...the rabbit goes up the hole around the back of the tree and back down the hole. ADAM!!! He walked me through, and I forgot one step, the loop. Is this a good start to my first climb??? I took deep breathes as I walked over to my starting point, I rechecked my knots. They were good, so I yelled up to Adam, "climbing!" and instantly heard "climb on!" And I began. I got it. I shift my weight from left to right with each step. One bolt down, eight more to go. Two bolts down...my first panic. What now. It seemed like forever before I figured something out and moved on. I started whimpering at about bolt 6, when the route took me to the side of the face, exposing my height...letting loose my fear and so began the "Elvis leg." Every inch up, my leg would just go crazy. I finally reached Adam, now crying, to discover that he isn't on a flat ledge, it slopes. I scamper as high into its "safety" as I
Celebrating to the Sierra Nevada
with a Sierra Nevada beer..yummy. We had a campfire and I made dinner. caould go and Adam hooked me into the anchor. I held that that piece, the one that attaches me, to the anchor, I held on to it for dear life. Adam set me up for repell Adam. He tried assuring me of my safety, but the articles I had been reading kept flashing in my head. "He was soo Careful""How could this happen?" Adam helped me from the fetal possion I had been in. I loosened my grip from my anchor and went quickly and tightly to my brake line. I put my weight in the harness and over the edge I went. Slowly lowering myself...I like the repell. When I reached the bottom, I finally smiled. I know, I'm a baby. I've done harder climbs, but this one...i don't know, Scared the caca out of me!
Back at the RV, we sat and ate some lunch. I was trying to get feeling back in my legs when the rumbling started. It grew louder and louder until it became this aweful sound that you felt it in you stomach. I looked out the window and saw the shadow of a plan. I ducked my head...instinct I guess. I thought, this is it. A plan is crashing into us! I ran to the door and looked out. There were 2 fighter jets weaving back and forth through the valley. Again, I felt numb. It was enough excitment for one day. I slep well that night.
The rest of the days there were spent bouldering, when the weather allowed it. We did our laundry by hand, and read. We went for a bike ride...One day the sheriff stopped by to let us know that there was a storm coming. We thanked him for the warning, but stayed put. The storm only brought a few inches of snow, which was melted by early afternoon. It was a nice spot, but we moved on. We went about 10mi up the road to Wofford Heights. We went to the grocery store and spoiled ourselves with a burger each from Burger King. We stayed outside a campground called Boulder Gulch, on Lake Isabella. We spent our days there like we had in Kernville-dodging the weather, reading mags and bouldering. We even treated ourselves to a few episodes of 'That 70's Show' that I had downloaded on my computer. I loved it!
Now, we're in Bakersfield at a Pep Boys. We need a new relay. We'll either stay here the night or head on to the coast. I think I'm ready to eat out, have a beer or 2..maybe even 3, go wild. We plan on seeing my friend Nate in Pacific Grove in a few days. There, maybe I'll spend sometime in front of the TV. Get my fix.
I'll add more pictures when we have more battery life!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.176s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 11; qc: 62; dbt: 0.0482s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.4mb
Margaret
non-member comment
Good to see
I love getting my email notice that you and Adam are keeping the rest of us up-to-date. You both are looking as though the freedom of travel is doing you right. Love you and miss you!