Bull City Chick

I have been effectively bouncing back and forth from Virginia to North Carolina and as a result I am sick of driving. I packed almost all my belongings into my two door civic this week and now have a lot of sorting to do. Here are some photos from Durham and Cville.

East Coast Baby!

For those of you who don't know(and read my blog). Nixi and I are back East, we rolled through Kentucky a week ago, then to Durham and now on to Charlottesville. The drive back was simply delightful although a bit gloomy...we drove in and out of a massive storm for the whole week! Despite the rain Lucy and I and our foxy puppies jammed to great tunes old and new and chatted each others ears off, it sounds funny saying that because I actually don't think we could chat each other's ears off, we both enjoy talking to each other way too much! After an amazing month and a half at Smith and and road trip I know we will be friends for life. For those of you who know me well you know that a road trip is an ultimate test of whether we get along or not, Lucy passed with flying colors. I am still not used to sleeping inside and not climbing every day but time is flying faster than expected.

Now for an update on the future, I am moving into my car at the end of October and setting off again! I plan to head west, maybe stopping in CO or UT on the way. The ultimate destination will be CA unless my Fancypants is somewhere else. Aside from the vague outline I am leaving the rest of the trip up to Nixi, she did an excellent job with the last one after all.

Here are a few photos from the road trip on the way back:

Rainy but beautiful Spearfish Canyon

I can't help myself! Rocks are too tempting-Black Hills SD

Just a small bit of the beautiful sleeve Lucy drew on me.

Climbing "Goldrush" 11d-Red River Gorge KY

Stop #19 Smith Rock State Park

After living at Smith for the past month I am still not sure how to put it in words. When I first got here I was underwhelmed by the rock and the vibes of the park but after a few short days I fell in love. The campsite here is a mecca for interesting and weird people of all backgrounds and with all kinds of skills, the rocks are a 5-10 minute walk down the hill and across the river from my tent and the weather is nearly perfect(at least in the shade). Despite the crumminess of some of the Tuff I have grown to enjoy the rock and have found myself feeling thankful for the once scary nubbins. Smith is home to my first Trad lead, my first attempt at a 12c on lead, and hopefully soon my first 12a red point. I apologize for the climbing lingo but simply said these are some of the most awesome milestones of my climbing career thus far. I have played and laughed at Smith more than I have in years and as I prepare to leave I know that I will be back for more excellent crimboing.

Playing on the Silks off a high line at Steelhead Falls

The Sunset at Smith

Nixi and I on top of the Springboard doing some yoga

Jumping off the Monkey swing!

Stop #18 Boise ID and Baker City UT

I swung through Boise on my way Northwest and popped in for a Country Two Step lesson. Country Two step is much harder than it sounds but it is quite fun and I also learned Country Swing which is a blast! The crowd was mainly older and I met a man who's hobby was flying planes and chatted about climbing and traveling with many of the folks there. I concluded my evening by singing Karaoke to Simon and Garfunkel's "Cecilia" and hit the road to Oregon. The following day I cruised through Baker City Oregon which is an adorable little town with a cute Main Street and a great Food Coop. I stocked up and headed out on the final stretch to Smith.

Stop #17 Devils Playground-Utah

After procrastination in Wyoming and a late night decision to drive to Oregon instead of Cali I wound up lost in Devils Playground. Even though it was out of the way I was drawn there and spent hours into the middle of the night wending my way through bumpy dirt roads in the middle of nowhere/Northwestern Utah. Needless to say my headlights eventually panned across some rocks and I parked the car and almost instantly fell asleep. In the morning I woke up in the middle of Devil's Playground all by my self. It was incredibly serene. I cooked breakfast and immediately needed to put my hands on all the beautiful rock around me. Nixi and I romped around and did some great off roading until we headed to Smith in the late afternoon.

Some of the gorgeous rocks in the Playground

"Sinful Sending"- How could I help but climb naked it was the Devil's Playground after all.

"Sacrificial Atonement"- This is the scariest self portrait I've taken yet I am laying on the edge of a stone that juts out twenty some feet in the air, needless to say balance was crucial.

Stop #16 BLM Land on WY/ID border

Leaving Jackson was hard and because I felt reluctant to move West I was looking for excuses to stay in Wyoming as I began to drive Southwest towards Nevada. As I drove south I saw a beautiful fin of rock sticking up between two mountains and naturally I had to go explore it! I found bear poop, heard cougars in the night, slept for a good 12 hours, and free soloed my first off width.

Driving in, yet another off roading adventure with Matilda.

"Willful Wyoming"- Self portrait taken in a cave 200 feet up after free soloing the biggest fin in the canyon.

The obvious crack/ramp system in this photo is what I free soloed to find the cave shown above, it doesn't look too big in this photo but the first crack system was probably about 80 feet and with my  perception of height it very well could have been 100.

Stop #15: Jackson Wyoming

After a week of humming "I'm going to Jackson" in my head I couldn't help but go back to Jackson. This time around I got a much better feel for the town and it's surrounding beauty. I drove back with one of my friends I climbed with in Lander and we set up camp at the gorgeous(and free) BLM campground North of town. I couldn't have asked for a better place to live for a week. Every morning I woke up to the Tetons and every night I watched the sun set on them. They remain the most majestic mountains I have seen.

View from high up in the Tetons

Nixi after our hike up to the base of the Grand.

Buffalo across from my hammock in the morning

Quick Update from Terrebonne

Apologies for the lack of posts. Of course I can only be a little bit sorry because my lack of posts means lack if down time and therefore LOADS of fun! I have made my way to Oregon, Smith Rocks to be exact. The rock here did not excite me very much at first but I stuck around for the people and have learned to love the rock. The campsite is a big family and the views are amazing everywhere! I may be staying here for another week or so. Sqaumish will still be around. 

Here are a couple photos:

Stop #14 Lander WY, and Wild Iris

My computer has 1% battery as I am writing this so I won't say much right now. Lander is a great place though, adorable town, and SO much great climbing. Wild Iris is my favorite so far. Steep Limestone, my first flapper, great company.

Bouldering in Sinks Canyon, Nixi was plumb tuckered out after chasing chipmunks all day!

Flapper I got on my third attempt to send 12a in Wild Iris.

My most successful attempt at "The Solace of Bolted Faces" 12a, this was the day after the flapper. Photo credit goes to Matt.

Stop #13 City of Rocks

Every new place I climb at quickly becomes my favorite place to climb. The City of Rocks is literally a city composed of rocks...and you better like rocks a whole lot because there isn't much else around. The tiny town of Almo Idaho is about 15 minutes away and contains one gas station, a general store, a hotel, and a quirky store named Rock City that serves pizza and an excellent selection of beer. Rock City is engineered to serve climbers except for the fact that they WILL NOT make pizza after 7:30pm, so all the late evening climbers are plumb outta luck! Unfortunately I did not take many photos at the city, yes I know I should have but I love being unplugged and so I fell behind. The guys I was climbing with took a few so at some point I'll have access to those.

"Serenity of Solitude" I took this on my way to the City, across the mountains from Jackson in Idaho.

Stop #12 Tetons Numero Uno

I swung through the Tetons after driving through Yellowstone although I can't say I really visited them because all I did was pull over to take pictures a couple times. I picked up these two young men from Taiwan who were hitch hiking down to Jackson for "Thai Place"(a restaurant). We drove down to Jackson to the soundtrack of Taiwanese "Party Music" since I don't speak any Taiwanese and they didn't speak much English. After arriving in the town of Jackson I went out for Thai Food with them and they bought me some Thai Tea. Shortly after I set off for the City of Rocks.

Stop #11 Yellowstone National Park

My time in Yellowstone was short, partially because I was dying to climb, but mostly because of the tourists drawn to the park like fire ants to a slip n' slide. Without a doubt one of the most beautiful places I have seen here are a few photos:

Sunset driving through the park

"Moonlit"- North Yellowstone, As I drove through the park at dusk I saw steam rising above the river and hiked over to find these beautiful falls. This is one of my few successful photos using the moon as lighting.

Steam rising from a thermal pool during the day. 

Stop #10 Bozeman, MT

There are many things I could say about Bozeman, but I'm going to keep it short and sweet. Bozeman felt like home to me. It was partly because of good company but there was something else that I haven't been able to put my finger on.

"American Pride"- Driving through the countryside of MT in the Jeep

Majestic little Nixi loved the Jeep!

Cascade Falls in Hyalite Canyon

The high waters of the Reservoir in Hyalite Canyon

Stop #9 Ten Sleep Wyoming

The river where I camped in Ten Sleep. 

This was a very beautiful area, unfortunately I did not find other climbers so I just spent one night here.

I had to include this one, she's just too cute!

Stop #8 Bighorn Mountains

The Bighorn Mountains is the first big mountain range I've seen on this trip. I literally got goosebumps when I saw the snowy peaks on the horizon.

Stop #7 Mt. Rushmore, The Black Hills

View from the top of a climb. The Black Hills are amazing because you summit on just about every climb, this is definitely my favorite place thus far!

The rock here was amazing, probably one of my favorite places that I have ever climbed.

So.Much.Rock. And this was just one small area, there's loads more to be developed.

Stop #6 The Badlands.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

The Badlands were very beautiful and unlike anything I had seen before. I enjoyed the views but was disappointed in the amount of tourists milling around.

Stop #5 Sioux Falls

Unfortunately I did not take any photos in Sioux Falls. However, I did have a fabulous time there! I swung by for a West Coast swing dancing class and boy is West Coast Swing different than East Coast! It was much more difficult. Still a blast though, dancing is always a blast. I love it because I really don't have ego when it comes to dancing. Somehow it just melts away and I am left with this childish joy after each step, whether or not I nailed it. Anywho, the Swing in Sioux Falls was delightful and I met a lovely Midwestern gentlemen(and I don't say gentlemen lightly)! He offered me a couch to crash on, hour upon hour of great conversation, AND cooked me breakfast in the morning! It was refreshing to meet such a wonderful and respectful man. I hope our paths cross again.

Stop #4 Blue Mounds State Park

As soon as I saw the cliffs from the road I HAD to pull over. After driving through endless farms for days I need to get my hands on some rock!

Climbing selfies are more difficult than expected. This was an iPhone shot. Blue Mounds State Park-MN

Stop #3 Somewhere in Minnesota

'Joy of the Open Road'- Taken in a farmers field in Minnesota. Sadly I left my tattered rainbows along the edge of this field  when I decided to go romping through the countryside barefoot.

'Travel Companions'- Taken at the same field in Minnesota. Nixi had an absolute blast running around with me! She loves when I stop to take pictures.

Stop #1: Chicago and Lake Bluff

'Rockin' Yoga'- On the shore of Lake Michigan in Lake Bluff, IL.

Nixi and I at a photoshoot in Chicago. I did not take this one.

Greetings!

Welcome to my new blog! A Vagabond's Rambles will be a record and memory of my summer travels of 2014. I will post stories, self portraits, and pictures of beautiful places in nature. Here's what you are in for if you follow the blog.

Right now I am a vagabond, one day I will be content to settle down into a tiny cottage, built from my blood and sweat, in the hills and valleys of a magical place unknown to me at this time. But for now I will wander and explore the beauty of my country and those around it with the goal of finding that final destination. I traveled Europe for four months last year and this year I am traveling the states. I loved Europe and will surely go back but for now I don't want to leave my tiny soul mate, Nixi.

Nixi and I will embark on July 8th heading Northwest from Charlottesville, VA. I will post once a week with a self portrait and description of the great adventures that we had during those seven days. Most of the trip will consist of climbing and exploring off the beaten path. Along the way I will be working on my skills as a photographer and taking self portraits and photos of nature. Our basic path is going to look like this:

Journey to Victoria | My new trip on Roadtrippers.com!