My last two climbing days of the road trip were spent hanging out in Salt Lake City and climbing in Little Cottonwood Canyon, which was really cool because I had only climbed on granite that one day in the Poudre, and because I had never really climbed in LCC before. Those turned out to be two of the best days of the trip. 

All in all, it was a wonderful and productive trip. I made lots of new friends and got to see some old friends that I hadn’t seen in a while. And most importantly, it was a learning experience. The headache of responsibility has come flooding back now that I am home again. The escape of the climbing trip washes away, and I am once again faced with reality. To-do lists are written, and errands are ran, and again I am stuck walking the dog while my parents are out riding a hundred miles on their bikes (I hope I am as active as they are when I’m half their age!) and back to climbing in the gym — what a drag. I just have to keep in mind how minor my responsibilities are compared to most people. At least I’m not stuck behind a desk staring at a computer screen for hours on end… There will be more rocks to climb, more trips to be planned, and more good time to share with friends soon enough. I think Squamish might be next. OK, I must go do my taxes! 

Hopefully I will be able to get out to the beach this week if these ballistic onshore winds die down for long enough. Till the next installment, peace, and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.