An April 2012 Update…

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From the top of Cat in the Hat, in Red Rock Canyon, NV.

Where have I been?

They say, absence makes the heart grow fonder… although, sometimes the authorities may refer to it as “unlawful neglect of a blog”.  So, I apologize if it seems that my blog has been wallowing in it’s own filth, and had to survive only on the little tidbits of updates I provide my flickr feed via instagram (located at the bottom of my blog), but I promise I have excuses a-plenty!

A New Job, a New City

So, if you aren’t a facebook friend, or a personal friend, you may not realize that I just started a new chapter of my life.  (Hopefully, this new chapter will see much more action than my blog does.) Even though I’ve been “Fun-employed” for the past 8 months, and I enjoyed every single moment of it, I had an opportunity come my way that was difficult for me to pass up.  After my trip out to Montana, I had updated my resume, and sent it to a friend who told me of a great opening at her company.  This followed with a couple of phone interviews, which then led to a day of in-person interviews.  Several weeks later, that incubated egg hatched into a job offer.  So, while it may seem that I’ve been neglecting this blog (which I have), It’s really only because I’ve been cheating on it by getting a job.  So, is that a lesser evil?  I don’t know.

So to sum up what I just said, (or TL:DR, in internet speak), I applied for, interviewed for, received, accepted, and began my new job since my last post.  I am now a Project Manager at Schawk (http://www.schawk.com/), and am now sleeping on my friend’s couch in Chicago!  The couch thing is only temporary, until I find my own place, but hopefully the new job thing lasts longer.  I’m excited to return to being a contributing member of society, and also to have a new city to explore!

But, Seriously!  Where else have I been?

Okay, so, I’m not being completely honest.  It’s not like I was locked up in some dungeon, feverishly working on my resume, and practicing my interviewing skills.  I was still out doing this, that and the other, when I watching episodes of Doctor Who on netflix.  So, where was I?

Las Vegas, and Red Rock Canyon

My last big trip was an extended weekend in Las Vegas, and Red Rock Canyon, in Nevada.  I met up with some friends there, with the main goal to do a 5.6/5.7 multi-pitch trad climb called “Cat in the Hat” in Red Rock, but also squeeze in some fun in Vegas.  I’m not a big gambler, but I did end up winning $80 on slots on the first day, and gradually giving back $60 throughout the weekend via video black jack, one quarter’s worth at a time.  But we balanced out the excitement with a Cirque show, (Ka, which was utterly, breath-taking, and edge-of-your-seat exhilarating).

It was a great trip, and although I’ve been to Red Rock Canyon before (I’ll post photos from last August when I was there, in my next post), I’m sure it won’t be my last time.

Anyway, I’ll post some photos now, and shut up. 🙂

Red Rock Canyon & Climbing Cat in the Hat

Whoa, so I spoke too soon.  I’m not shutting up, quite yet.  I just wanted to add that I didn’t take quite as many photos as I would have liked, and since we got a late start to the climb, and with how busy the route was, it seemed we were always in a rush, especially since we had to be out of the park by 7pm, or we would have been fined an additional $100+.  I think next time I come back, I’ll see if I can take some night photos; the hike out via headlamps and moonlight was amazingly beautiful, even if we were trying to race against the clock.  Okay, I digress, here are the photos. 🙂


The whole climb took about 6 hrs, but a lot of it was waiting for others ahead of us to come down, as the belay stations at the top weren’t very big.  I’ll probably update this with more descriptions for photos, but I’m just going to publish now, because I’m going to bed, now that I have a job to go to in the morning! 🙂  Thanks for reading!  More posts soon, I promise!

107 thoughts on “An April 2012 Update…”

    • Nevada is a beautiful place. I remember going to Red Rock Canyon in the game Fallout: New Vegas, and it looked about the same, but not quite as realistic. How is it in real life? It looks nice!

      Reply

      • It’s gorgeous!! I lived there for 10 years …And New Vegas is my way of being in Vegas when I can’t be there in person! 🙂

      • cool lol! I thought I was the only one still playing that game. How realistic is the game? I know the casinos are different but otherwise…

    • Yeah, right as we hit the top, the sun was starting to set, and the golden hour was really hitting. I wish we had more time to chill there, but we had to scram as there was a group right behind us. But, yeah, it was amazing how some sections, the rock had different qualities… like one pitch was crack climbing, and one pitch was smooth and slabby, and those were different from the others. Thanks for reading!

      Reply

  16. Beautiful pictures of wonderful experiences. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on being freshly pressed.

    Reply

    • You’re welcome! Colorado is a pretty great place as well… Really dig RMNP. Did Long’s Peak last year, and some climbing in Estes Park. Will have to make it out there for some snowboarding sometime! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  21. I’ve been to both Red Rocks and Ka…both are INCREDIBLE!

    Though I haven’t exactly climbed Cat in the Hat. Nope — but the drive through Red Rocks is spectacular in its own right. 😉

    Did you see any mountain goats?

    Reply

    • Agreed, Red Rocks is spectacular. I did some hiking there with my brother prior to this trip in the summer, and it was a totally different feel. Didn’t see any mountain goats here, although, I saw one hiking Flattop Mountain in Colorado, and that was pretty cool. Next time I’m in Red Rocks, I’ll keep my eyes open though. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

    • Haha, no photos like this this time around. I had put together a slideshow from my trip to poland in the fall (shown in a previous blogpost), which I’ve been told is reminiscent of the hangover…

      Reply

    • It was definitely great… We had gone on a Friday morning, and even then it was pretty busy. Can’t imagine what it’d be like on a weekend morning! Definitely do it if you get the chance!

      Reply

  27. Looks terrifying and exciting. Congratulations on your new job and for being FP’d.

    If you ever want to buy a condo in Wicker park Chicago, let me know. I know one that may be available.

    Reply

  37. Amazing pictures and congrats on the new job…
    I’ve been trying to do new thing, try something I might not do… But I am not ashamed to say that though I love the pics of you on the mountain, I still have problems with heights… got to get over that, but I did feel like – man I should try that.

    Reply

    • I was out in Utah for a snowboarding trip, but haven’t climbed out there yet! I’ve heard great things though! Is that where Arches national park is? I’d love to go out there someday!

      Reply

      • Arches and Canyonlands are just outside of Moab, it’s a wonderful place, not only for climbing but for all outdoor sport, it definitely merits a visit.

  42. Congrats on the job, the beautiful photos and being Freshly Pressed! Seems everything is looking up for you these days! 🙂 – MoSop

    Reply

  44. Wow! I’ve always wanted to go rock climbing, but I’m afraid of heights so I don’t know how well that would turn out…

    Reply

    • I’d recommend starting out at a climbing gym… Also, it helps to go with someone more experienced than you. You’ll find that you become more comfortable with heights, and taking some falls, once you realize that you are pretty safe! Best of luck! Thanks for reading!

      Reply

      • Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely check that out. We can climb at the local REI, maybe we’ll try there.

  45. Cat in the Hat is a lovely climb. Even the memory of having climbed it with my ex can’t detract from the beautiful memory.
    Ahhhh, that’s the wonderful thing about being on belay on a multi-pitch…distance and voice-buffering wind 🙂
    And with a 5.6 climb, hardly any danger of meeting one’s death from abusive belay techniques (more slack? no problem! give it to me…lol)
    I think the photos are just fine without all the usual text of technical and geographical details.
    Really, if people want the write-up they can just look at the guidebook. Why ruin the scenery with too much talk?
    Treat it like the climb, let it speak for itself!

    Reply

    • Hey, thanks! Good point! Sometimes I gotta learn to let photos speak those thousand words they are known for. 🙂 I agree, if i’m gonna do a multipitch, let’s keep it simple. 🙂

      Reply

  58. Fantastic shots – the size and clarity of the pictures really makes the viewer feel like they are right there in Red Rock Canyon!

    Reply

  63. Vow, your photos are amazing. Are you a mountain climber yourself?
    I primarily do travel (www.bhavenjani.wordpress.com) and would like to do adventure like this too. mm so exciting, cheers and all the best, Bhaven

    Reply

    • I hike, rock climb, snowboard, and I have ice climbed. Not sure I’m ready for any real technical mountain climbs yet, but maybe one day I will be able to work up the courage and fitness to do so…

      Reply

  72. I needed to compose you one tiny note in order to say thanks the moment again just for the magnificent opinions you have discussed at this time. And great photos by the way!

    Reply

  74. Red Rock National Park is gorgeous. When my older son moved to LV, and I went to visit, I insisted on visiting the park. I am not into the gambling and clubs… as he is. However, he was impressed. When I moved to France, my youngest son moved to be near his brother. He found the park when looking for a place to climb. I have lots of photos of the park and a few of him climbing. Thanks for the beautiful photos.
    Léa

    Reply

  78. This is truly inspiring, pictures are worth a million words! I love when people seize the opportunity and truly do amazing things. You guys inspire me to be more adventurous and take on life with everything I have. Can`t wait for the next set!

    Reply

  83. Michael’s Belay Glasses: http://belayglass.blogspot.com/ Don’t crane your neck

    while belaying. Wear these glasses and look forward to gaze upward saving on

    neck strain. They allow the belayer to more fully concentrate their attention

    to the task at hand, especially on long, protracted sessions. They accomplish

    this at roughly a 1/4 of the cost of the other product on the market, putting

    this easier into the average climbers budget.

    Reply

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