Finally...Another Post

Due to some technical difficulties between the campsites spotty Internet and my laptop I have not been able to post anything, but all is well now and I am here to deliver.

Day1

Driving, driving, eating and more driving can pretty much sum up the trek to Colorado alot better than mindless rift-raft, but what would a blog be without the unneeded sentences taking up the endless space that forms the Internet.

I packed my bags with the in

tent in heading to Kyle's house quickl

y

, but before starting to Kyle's I encountered what would be the first of many obstacles in my way...getting my dad, who was knocked out sleep of the couch. Thirty minutes of pushing shoving and struggling passes and he is finally up. We grab my luggage for the two week trip (a suitcase and messenger bag) and throw it into the truck and depart the driveway. My dad and I arrive at Kyle's greeted by an eager climber throwing things into what will become the vessel of our trip. I toss my bags on the ground and take in the fresh Kentucky air as it will be my last chances for two weeks to really take in the unique bluegrass atmosphere (which I am absurdly missing right now as I sit in this quasi-urban coffee shop on the Estes Park strip gazing at the desert flowers, brown dirt, and rushing river). Eventually Aaron and Greg arrive at the house 20 minutes late and our crew is complete and the drive is ready to be driven. We pack into the car(Greg and Aaron are driving separately) and head out frantically thinking of anything we could have possibly

forgotten.

We drove and drove, only stopping when absolutely necessary (according t

o Kyle aka Mr.Efficient means only when there is a combination of food, gas, and restroom breaks). The method worked and though we suffered through the night tired and hungry we made it to Colorado all in one piece, though the drive through

Kansas can leave one insane. Upon arrival we droped base camp, gathered up a day pack and headed to the park for a quick guide and hike to the bouldering areas to check it out.

After a 30 minute drive we summit at the Bear Lake Trail Head. We compose ourselves and begin the grueling, steep hike to Emerald lake the we have all grown to "love".

The hike consists of 2.5 miles up gently rising and turning trail that is filled with paved concrete, loose rock, and Annoying touri

st. The tourist are by far the worst and are as pestering as the mosquitoes that take more blood then the Red cross in the mountains and haunt your dreams when your in the tent awaiting the next day of climbing. Once you hike an hour you arrive to the emerald lake region where the Kind, Large, and Whispers boulder lay. We quickly surveyed all three boulders picking and creating our tick lists. Once finished surveying the boulders we packed up our things and quickly headed back down the trail toward Lake Hiyaha where Chaos Canyon sits.

This hike though shorter is no

t to under estimated. It takes insanely steep switch backs up the side of the protruding mountain. The trail rough and rugged with jolting roots and jagged rock.

You just look down and walk and hope to arrive soon and we you do arrive you pat your self on the back and continue forward because the hike to the bouldering is not over. Once you hit the lake you continue to jump and drop down the talus surrounding and forming the lake. In order to go from problem to problem you must hop and cross these unforgiving talus fields. We hopped around observing our surrounding and became tired. We quickly hopped back on the trail and headed home, the whole timing dreaming of what lies ahead for tomorrow.