Wow… What a month this has been! Let me try to fill ya’ll in on the fun that’s been had in these past few weeks.
First, I flew to San Francisco for a bachelor party for my good friend Jamie. Our crew had a blast. We rented scooters and terrorized the city and took the ferry over to Alcatraz Island. Here’s a few pictures of the mischief…
Our scooter gang parked for lunch.
Rolling down Lombard St.
Tree Hugging in the Muir Valley Redwood Forest
Locked up in Alcatraz... All the tourists were listening to headphone-audio tours and video taping. It was very quiet inside the prison. We decided instead to make our own tour and made up tales about the little known facts of Alcatraz. However, no one could hear us, but they will when they watch their video tape at home...
Next it was off to Squamish, British Columbia to meet up with my friend Jim and our Kiwi buddy Dave (in January 2005, the three of us traveled all around the South Island of New Zealand doing lots of climbing and tramping). Dave’s been living in Squamish all season and was an excellent host as he showed us all the best climbs and local hideouts. We even became sponsored athlete-models for Stormtech! Enjoy a few pictures from our days north of the border…
Dave working the traverse pitch on the Grand Wall.
Jim climbing the best pitch of his life, the Split Pillar. 4 pitches up the Grand Wall with only 8 more pitches to go.
Dave showing us the fine art of dumpster diving. We scored big. Heaps of vegetables, cookies, sandwiches, and bread.
One morning on route to the crag we were approached by some guys looking for climbing models for their clothing company's photography shoot. They set us up with free gear and $150 each! We rigged up the photographer to take pictures of Dave climbing Excaliber.
Me working the route.
After a solid week of climbing in Canada I dropped over to Missoula, Montana to catch up with yet another good friend, Mike. He’s a NYC guy who ditched the city life to enjoy Big Sky country. We had a great time catching up and doing lots of rock climbing and frisbee golfing. You know, you should see some of the pictures…
While enjoying a nice day of climbing, these forest rangers come by to usher us out of the canyon because a wild fire was rolling down.
The tiny smoke cloud in the distance turned into a raging firestorm through the canyon.
I assisted Mike with a family portrait photoshoot for some of his clients.
We practiced our juggling.
Disc Golfing
Now with a little taste of travel it was off to Utah to visit with my friend and former Jetboilian, David and his wife Haley. David and Haley were my climbing partners back in NH. In typical Utah style, the weather was absolutely wonderful and I got the grand tour of the Beehive state. We started the trip off with a canyoneering adventure in Zion National Park. We then did some spectacular basalt climbing outside St. George, toured Bryce Canyon National Park, and had a few more days climbing at Brian’s Head and Rock Canyon. Thanks, Haley, for purchasing Bahhhhbara III (a.k.a. Dirty Jo). Plenty of good photos to share…
Long story short, this is my third inflatable sheep... Here we are walking to the climbs in Rock Canyon, Provo, Utah.
David narrowly escaping all the bird poop holds while climbing at 9,000 ft in southern Utah.
David and I wielding our cougar clubs. We climbed at a crag called "Running Scared" which was named by a climber who was stalked there by a mountain lion. We also determined that we didn't have to out run the cougar, we just had to out run Haley...
Enjoying sunset at Bryce Canyon National Park overlooking all the Hoodoos.
Camping at Bryce in the super-rad air beam tent supplied the folks at NEMO.
Me climbing some on some sweet basalt outside St. George, Utah.
Rappelling down the Pine Creek slot canyon in Zion National Park.
Walking through the slot canyon. Surface temps were in the 90's. Temps in the slot canyon were in the 60's. The stagnant pools which we swam through were in the 50's.
OK, so now it’s off to the last stop, Boulder, Colorado for Jamie and Laura’s wedding and to see all my college friends. The wedding was held in the amphitheater atop Flagstaff Mountain overlooking Boulder. Absolutely beautiful! It was a wonderful ceremony and reception. I’m so happy for you two! When in Boulder I also had a chance to meet up with my riding partner, Charles, and try out his new KTM 640. FUN! After we discussed some of the finer details about the trip it started to set in… I’m riding my motorcycle 20,000 miles to the bottom of South America! YIKES! Charles has another 2 months of school left before he meets up with me – See you soon buddy! Take a look at a few Colorado photographs…
Jamie treated all the groomsmen to straight razor shaves. Aside from the bloody necks, pulling of each hair and missed spots, it was a great experience.
My friend Fox's motorcycle jacket - 667 Neighbors of the beast.
Hiking in my old backyard, the Flatirons in Boulder.
Jamie and Laura's wedding
My riding partner, Charles and his KTM 640 Adventure.
What a fun month this has been, and to think, the fun has just begun. I’m now back home in New Hampshire and have begun to put the final touches on the trip preparation. My goal is to depart next Wednesday, October 14, in time to make it to Jamie and Laura’s 2nd wedding reception in Maryland. Lots to do still and the clock is ticking.
Stay tuned. More to come shortly 🙂
A Few More Miles 
“Long story short, this is my third inflatable sheep”
possibly the funniest thing I’ve read in a couple of weeks.