The Fourth Blog 

People ask how I train for climbing trips to which I can only tell them there is no guidebook, but there is a 21 day tour of my life with my friends/family, otherwise known as The Outlaws, might help: 

Day 1. Get plane tickets, and find out I’m stuck in a middle seat for the 10-hour flight, which is not a good situation for all involved; and then find out the Jeep has died completely and I need a new car.

2. Solo two miles at Tahquitz up to 5.11c; find out that Marci (my wife) had my plane seat changed to an aisle and started finding me places to stay. Then decide to put my money where my mouth is and buy a Prius which is my part of helping the environment and flipping the bird to rising gas prices.

3. Help Nikki (my daughter) make a tombstone for Thomas Jefferson as an art project; jog five miles with the Wondermutts; workout at the gym.