Go East young man

At times it felt strange on I-80.  All the signs pointing east and I'm thinking why am I going this way? Everything in the past five years has been pushing to the west.  Pushing upwards in elevation.  Trips home involve quick flights and short stays.  Now I'm committing to over a month on the path of friends, southern food and world class climbing.  

Started the trip off right  in Denver and saw Mike George.  Its refreshing to see old friends and be able to pick up right where you left off.  Despite arriving smelling of stagnant water when I stepped into a wetter ditch than I anticipated during a post construction zone drive that lasted what seemed like hours to a bladder that was going to explode.  The next gas stations involved me cleaning off in the sprinklers then bathroom while laughing at my ridiculous situation.  Road trips are never boring.  

Walking down the concrete path, I turn off my headlamp.  Full moon in Zion National Park and we have the Angel's Landing trail to ourselves.  Its funny how waiting until midnight gets you that chance.  My tired feet plod on downward and my eyes adjust to the dark shadows and illumated path around me.  The white calcite on the canyon walls glows eerily as we stride down, exhausted towards the car.  Towards food, bed, and no agenda tomorrow.  The 1200 feet of climbing that we woke up at four a.m. is done.  

    Lunar Ecstasy was the route that Brian and I have now finished.  For my non climber friends and family you can read more about it at. the link at the bottom of this post.  Brian is a seasoned Zion climber having soloed this route over three days and two nights in a previous year.  Our goal was to finish this grade five in a day.  Its been climbed in as little as four hours although most parties take two days or else fix lines the night before to go for the in a day ascent.  The end result of our push was twelve great hours of climbing with good efficiency and then a struggle for the top when I discovered at bolt was missing.  It took a long estimated 2+ hours for the last section to go down.  It took me going down twice and a good lesson on hooking in zion sandstone.  

http://www.mountainproject.com/v/utah/zion_national_park/moonlight_buttress/105717862