Dreaming of Leavenworth

Sitting in my apartment watching rain fall on the streets below is one of the last things I want to be doing right now.  For lack of anything better to say, I'd rather be climbing.  And though the snow kept us away this weekend, I'm still dreaming of the boulders in Leavenworth.  Here is an image to prove it:

So we couldn't drive to Leavenworth this weekend due to the snow that is currently dumping all over Little Bavaria.

Hope to try again in two weeks!  Keeping my fingers crossed for dry weather so we can top out some boulders and finally showcase our Seagull Bags.

Leavenworth, WA

A spur of the moment trip to Leavenworth, WA, last weekend has left me wanting more. Here are a few photos from the trip:

Icicle Canyon

Feel the Pinch

Brushing the top of The Drill Sergeant

Squarepusher

Hanta Man

Second photo of Feel the Pinch by Blochead.

Frugality Through Winning

How is it that a cozy fleece throw, a pair of "approach shoes" and two pairs of hiking socks costs only $4.84?

They came to me in the form of a raffle prize!  Technically speaking I won only a single item; a pair of size ten women's shoes.  They were only four sizes too big for me and no amount of thick winter socks could ever make them fit.  So I ventured downtown to the flagship Columbia Sportswear store for the first time and exchanged the giant shoes for thick winter socks and a blanket!  As well as a pair of comfortable shoes I can wear at work or walking to the crag.  To my knowledge these are the first Columbia products I have ever owned but I am all for things that keep me warm and I didn't spend my whole paycheck in one afternoon.  A successful raffle prize, I'd say. 

The Green Hornets

There was a time when I thought having small feet was inconvenient but Five Ten has proven me wrong.  I was excited to try on the new models at a shoe demo last night and began to loose hope after the Blackwing didn't fit my heel and there were no Arrowheads available in my size.  The Quantum was next and I was pleasantly surprised with how comfortable the 6 was but would be out of luck if they ever stretch.  Then the rep pulled out a pair of Hornets, size 5 1/2 and they fit perfectly, even my heel!

Apparently Hornets will only be available in sizes 6-12.  A huge thanks to Five Ten and their awesome reps for hooking me up with these tiny shoes!  They may have "5.5" written on the back in silver Sharpie but I don't care, I am just psyched to have a more aggressive shoe that fits me.  And I'm pretty sure they are still made state side, another plus!  I'm definitely saving these shoes for real rock.

Clif Family Winery

While researching the sponsors of a benefit comp taking place in Portland this saturday I came across something that I wasn't expecting, the Clif Family Winery.  Clif Family as in Clif Bar.

Next time I am in that part of California I'll have to try the climber wine.