“Congratulations on making it to your 39th birthday!” read a postcard addressed to Stacey Li Collver. “That’s a good way to look at it,” remarked Stacey with a laugh.
Not taking another birthday for granted is especially relevant in Stacey’s case. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with an extremely rare, dangerous lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The condition is quickly fatal with the only known “cure” being a new pair of lungs. Thankfully, Stacey was able to get a lung transplant in 2004. A couple of years later, she is doing well enough to be able to work, rock climb, and do most of the things she loved to do before LAM aside from, say, biking 100 kilometers on a 35-lb mountain bike replete with U-lock and a gallon of water (something she did in 1999!) Continue reading »
After a week of running 19 and 17.5 miles and biking 200, a change of pace was in order. How about using one’s hands and arms?
Happily, Tori and Chris were willing to take me to The Grotto on my third day back in California to do some rock climbing. This would be my first time there. In fact, this would be my first time rock climbing outdoors since the hair-raising multi-pitch adventure at Half Dome last year, and first time rock climbing at all since climbing indoors in April at Fort Collin’s Gym of the Rockies. Continue reading »
“If you come,” wrote Dave, my climbing buddy and former co-worker, “we can climb Snake Dike.”
Usually the mention of the word “dike” and a slithery vernom-spitting reptile would not tempt me away from a home-finding trip hundreds of miles away, but this was different. Half Dome is perhaps the most famous piece of granite in Yosemite Valley, if not the nation. I had summitted it once before in 1999, but only as a hiker. Or “tourist”, as some elitist rock climbers might condescendingly refer to them. Intrigued, I decided to look up more information about it.
“Dave,” I replied after doing so, “I some concerns about Snake Dike. It is 8 pitches, 5.7, and very run-out in many sections. It would make for a very challenging day…” Continue reading »
Just as I was really tiring of the drab desert scenery and was mentally ready to get the heck out of there, Tori and Chris saved me from the Southern Idaho doldrums by driving over from CA and inviting me to hang out with them for a day at the City of Rocks in Almo. What did we do most of the day? Climb some rocks, of course! Continue reading »
“Squamish: the Recreational Capital of Canada,” proclaimed a sign demarking the start of this area. Indeed, this is a famous place for rock climbing, and the Winter Olympics will even be held here in 2010. In addition to camping here overnight, I did a little bit of hiking and bouldering in Smoke Bluffs Park. Photos are here!
 and 8 pitches of rock climbing up Snake Dike, all in one day. Dave at the top of Half Dome.&title=Half Dome, CA "18 miles of hiking (2 due to getting lost) and 8 pitches of rock climbing up Snake Dike, all in one day. Dave at the top of Half Dome.")
