Climbing Turkeys

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Yup... climbing turkeys...

I was fortunate enough to be invited to an annual pre-Thanksgiving climbing/turkey roast event out at Vantage Washington (Columbia River Gorge) this weekend.

We left at noon on Saturday and arrived at the climbing area off of Vantage Road just after the rain stopped and the rocks were starting to dry off.

Here is a shot of “The Feathers” taken from the camping area.



We got camp set up, food unloaded and took a hike up to Sunshine Wall which included a fun little descent down a slot/crack (exceptionally fun when you're taking medication for a sinus infection that makes you dizzy)

After we got back from our Sunshine Wall adventure we arrived back at camp for some serious turkey frying going on. As it turns out, John Hazelton one of my friends from the Unitarian Church was our turkey chef. It was my first ever deep fried turkey (four of them actually) and it was as good as I've heard they are. (it may not be the best way for me to cook one, but I have a new appreciation for this preparation method)




It was a fabulous potluck thanksgiving feast and a fun time around the fire...



Although; sitting on the edge of the fire pit to pose for a picture does not always work out that well (time for more duct tape on the jacket)



There was an equally fabulous feast for breakfast the next morning and then we broke up and headed out to do some climbing at various areas. Our group walked up to the Feathers.

I used to climb a lot (actually as part of my job doing search and rescue) but haven't climbed hardly at all in the last ten years. I even had to get new shoes (age & marathon running made my feet bigger) and harness (cycling made my thighs bigger).

It was kind of weird to be a beginner again, but with the help of friends, I got comfortable on the rock pretty quickly.

This is one of my favorite photos; me going up, Tom coming down the next route...

“Hey baby... You come here often?”



There go the boys...



“Oh crap! That wasn't a hand hold”



and the girls...



Some of us managed to enjoy some wine & cheese (in the sunshine) after the climbing



The toilet situation at Vantage is disgusting. It is not only a healthy hazard, but an environmental one as well.

There are plenty of climbing areas that mandate that human waste be blue bagged (bagged and carried out) That's fine.

But the Washington State Department of Fish &Wildlife requires a permit to camp there (they will wake you up in the morning and write you a ticket) and has provided port-a-potties.

These things were beyond disgusting. There's no way to tell the last time they were cleaned out, but the human waste was piled above the seats. (too gross for even me to take a picture of)

This notice was posted on the bulletin board by those that want something done about this.



The rest of the pictures are available here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildcelticrose/sets/72157608822226989/

and/or can be viewed as a slide show here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildcelticrose/sets/72157608822226989/show/

That's all for now...

~L

Mood: Tired