Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Hope you are all enjoying the holidays with your families and loved ones.
As a surprise, I decided to head home for the holidays. With only my sister aware, I arrived home on the 23rd at 4 a.m. and showed up at my fathers for Christmas Eve supper. To say that all were surprised is an understatement, the reaction I got was worth the drive. Though, a mothers intuition seems to have kicked in as my mother brought my stocking to my Dad's and hid it in the car. Hmm..
So, after a whirlwind visit with family and a few friends, I am off again tomorrow morning via Vankleek Hill for a Christmas with my sister Heather and family.
First stop, Lake Erie in Ohio where we've rented a cabin for New Years. Then, a day or so in Kentucky before I head to Georgia to meet a friend and the drive to Mexico begins.
Though I was very happy to be home for the holidays and did get to see snow, I am excited to go back to my climbing adventure and hopefully some warmth. It's cold in Canada in the winter :)
Enjoy the holidays everyone and speak to you in the New Year.

Back in Chatt

So, I have again emerged from the woods. It's been so great to be so removed from all civilization and be in the middle of nowhere.

I headed up to Obed near Knoxville for some sport climbing with Kathryn and her friend from home. We met up with a bunch of people we had met in Kentucky and I actually felt like I was back there. There were about 10 of us from the red.

The climbing down here is much different, no jugs and a different type of rock. I think that 2 weeks of top-roping killed my lead head and I don't feel in great shape, so, it took some getting used to. The first day was difficult, i felt like I couldn't climb, but after 3 days of climbing, I'd gotten used to it and my whole body got quite the workout. It felt great.

Camping was near this boulder field, again, middle of nowhere, no one else around, except this time it had a bathroom which was nice. A couple of early nights and some hard days of climbing and today's rest day feels great.

We left and headed back South to Chattanooga again, and are even at the same campsite, but only for tonight. Tomorrow, we head to Little Rock City to do some bouldering, and stay with out good friend Thalia in her new apartment for the night. A reunion of Kentucky girl climbers. I can't wait.

Photos

I put up some new pics of Tennessee, pics of the wall to follow, I have to remember to take the camera of the climb with me, but enjoy the ones I've put up.

There are actually quite a few of me this time for those of you who have been asking.

Tennessee

T-wall is a must for all you gear climbers. It is in the middle of a forest, a 20 minute hike uphill to a beautiful cliffline 3 miles long. There are over 300 routes, beautiful and very exposed. The view from the top of the routes is of the beautiful cliffline, forest and the Tennessee river. The cliffline gets sun all day, making for some amazing winter climbing.

Though we did have a couple of days and nights of cold, (it was -15 for a couple of mornings and quite cold at night), the sun warms up the rock quickly and fingers are never cold. It's actually warmer at the crag than at the campground.

The camping is just what I wanted. In the woods off a quiet road, 20 minutes from the nearest anything, no facilities. There is a firepit (thank god given the cold) and we spend a part of everyday looking for firewood. There is even an outhouse, which consists of a hole, a raised toilet seat (like what you put on top of a toilet seat) and partial walls. No ceiling and a beautiful view of the river when you use it. I have never had such a pleasant bathroom experience, though the hole is small enough that aiming is a challenge. There was a river we were filtering water from until we were told there was a nuclear testing plant not far away. Luckily we haven't started glowing yet and stopped drinking the water. Most of the nights there has been no one else camping and the crag, except on the weekends, has been pretty much ours.

The climbing has been great. I have learnt a lot about placing gear and have been following on a lot of routes, but for many reasons have not led my own pitch. We met someone down here who climbs pretty hard and I've been following on many 5.10 cracks which have been fun and challenging. The climbing is so exposed, it's a little wierd at first, but I still love crack climbing, slowly getting used to hand and fist jamming.

Crack climbing is much slower pace than sport, lots more organization and planning for each pitch. When i sport climb, we get to the crag, throw on our harnesses and climb. It's been a bit of an adjustment for me, and I don't feel like I'm climbing as hard as I want to be, however, it has been a lot of fun. The camping and the company has certainly made up for it.

This weekend I head to Obed, near Knoxville, after a possible stop in Atlanta, Georgia to see a friend. Obed has some great, steep sport climbing, just what my sore knuckles and unused fingertips need.

Yesterday on a rest day we took a drive through some of northern Georgia, went through some small towns and some beautiful scenery with a view of the beginning of the Apalachian Mountains. We finished the day with a wine tasting and then supper in the woods.
Because the climbing has been pretty mellow, we've been able to climb almost every day, today being a rest day for me, a chance to plan my next leg of the trip and be by myself. I sit in a cafe in Chattanooga, after a nice shower (first one in 8 days) sipping a nice smoothie and eating food I haven't had to cook.

I haven't experienced too much of the south, I've been staying away from the cities, and climbing from dawn to dusk. I did however go into a small corner store and was mistaken for a local who the owner hadn't seen for a while, I got a very warm welcome and have been told I have a twin down here. People here are generally very friendly, helpful and warm.

Leaving Kentucky

So, the time has finally come. I am leaving Red River Gorge, moving on to Tennessee and a new adventure. We had a Christmas party here at the hostel on Saturday night and then those of us remaining at Miguels (all 3 of us) were invited to Miguel's home for a family supper. It was nice to spend some time with the Ventura's outside of the shop. Their house is beautiful, constructed entirely by Miguel and his wife.
Wrapping up loose ends and packing up today, going climbing for the last time this afternoon, despite the freezing cold, it's below 0 here today, but sunny.
It's wierd being at Miguel's and having no one else there. It's somewhat peaceful and a nice way to end the season. Especially since I've been able to sleep at the hostel, so i've managed to stay warm.
Tomorrow we head to t-wall to do some gear/trad climbing, a first for me, then on to Obed.
Kentucky has been really good to me and I look forward to coming back here in the spring, but it's time to move on.

Cold

I went from wearing a t-shirt last night to freezing this morning. We had a cold patch come through with tons of rain last night, lots of wind, and promise of thunderstorms. Today is a day to sit inside, which I thankfully can, and catch up on some computor stuff. I have been spoiled here with internet access everywhere, and anticipate some changes as I head down to Tenessee next week. However, for the moment I am enjoying the creature comforts of having two warm places to be.
I am putting up pictures as we speak, going through all the best ones I have from down here.
Enjoy and keep in touch everyone.