the Gym the Gym

Well hard to believe but the climbing gym in my garage is almost done. A few touches here and there and I have to start stashing away "stuff" that is taking up space. We're using the inside of the climbing gym frame for storage.

Next some sweeping and clean up, putting up climbing pictures that have been waiting patiently to be viewed. I have a couch in less-than-stellar shape in the living room that will now be the gym couch (courtesy of cat claws) Why the hell would the cats decide to start shredding a couch that I've had for years and years without nary a mark?! But I digress...

The only civilized way to usher in the climbing gym is of course, to have a PARTY. I sent out the invite to my climbing friends to come and check it out in about 2 weeks. Parties are funny things aren't they? You never know who's going to show up until they actually walk in the door, that's been my experience anyhow.

I am getting such a kick out of this gym. Its going to be like a grown-ups' club house. Maybe we should have a secret handshake! The intent is that friends will have access to the garage and climb at their leisure. Not sure how we'll figure out bathroom facilities as I don't think I'm quite as comfortable with everyone having access to my house. I'll have to give that some thought. Mind you gas stations are only a quick drive away.

I have a very cool pair of Petlz Nomics that'll be my primary drytooling tool. These bad-girls are damn fine I have to admit. Once I tried them on ice I was hooked. NOT that I'm retiring Thelma and Louise (not yet anyhow). I do have an email to the Petlz rep dude, Rob Owens to have some questions answered about using them on multi-pitch routes for a climber like myself whose had the case of the "drop-sees" on occasion. There is no sound more sickening than the "tink" "tink" of your ice tool falling down a climb.

No climbing for me this weekend. More pressing matters are presenting themselves, that I have to prepare for some shamanic tests. Of course I've put off studying. I used to be so on the ball with this stuff, but thanks to a shamanic process called "dearmouring" I've lost my rigid tendencies which included the discipline of studying.. but I digress AGAIN

I am looking foward to being able to practice on the climbing gym when ever I feel like it. Even a constent half hour once or twice a week will make a world of difference to my strength and abilities. At least I HOPE so! :-)

Canada and ICE

Home is where the ice is I suppose. I've been out 3 times since coming back from Switzerland. And surprise, surprise but my climbing bag has arrived in Canada after a sourjourn to Italy and the US apparently. Now I have to go down to a Customs Office in person so they can see that I am who I say I am and oh can I please have my FUCKING bag back?

Now I have some very spanky new climbing gear courtesy of the insurance company. But I told them that my gear came back and they were cool wtih that. OK so back to climbing. Shannon and I went out on New Years Eve and we had some fun at the Junk Yards. Nothing too strenuous as most of the good lines were already taken. But still I was happy to be on ice after looking longingly at all the unformed ice in Switzerland. Shannon also did her first lead so that was cool, we had a fun time.

But last weekend I made up for lost time. I got out with another climbing babe, Margo Talbot. I had been wanting to find an experienced female climbing partner that could show me a thing or two. A mentor shall we say. And voila the universe does provide. Margo and I had met briefly a few times at Will and Kim's and I knew of her by reputation. I was psyched to be able to get climbing with her. We had a blast and it feels to me like we have the makings of a friendship as well. I don't take friendships lightly so I'm excited about the potential of getting to know Margo. We're heading out Climbing on Sunday as well so more fun is in our future!

On Sunday Tom and I got out to the Ghost and got up 2 climbs, Anorexia Nervosa and Wuthering Heights. It was a good day, we swung leads and moved quite efficiently I thought.

On Tuesday I hugged trainer Nathan because on my climbs I could totally feel my strength and at one point at Haffner I realized that I wasn't getting tired AND I was climbing leashless. (which before I know I would have been worked). It was great to see the results of my hard work at the gym.

I am psyched about just about everything right now. New friends, plenty of climbing, I'm healthy, life is good.

Switzerland good memories and lost luggage

I noticed that one of my posts never got "posted" and now I have no idea what I blathered on about in that post. Oh yes, I do remember some of the blather!

Tom and I finally got out and did some Dry Tooling in a climbing crag in the Kanderstag area. It was such a beautiful walk up the valley and I had to keep pinching myself that I was actually in Switzerland. The sky was clear and blue and the weather was perfect. After our day we drove to another valley to meet Thomas and Anka at the hut they were staying at. We ended up walking up to the hut by our headlamps and inadvertantly took the "long trail" making it a 45 min walk rather than 20. In the daylight we laughed when we saw how close to the hut we had been before we took the wrong turn. Anyhow we got there and had wine and a raclette waiting for us. We spent Christmas Eve with friends, refilling our glasses, getting drunk, silly and having a damn good time. I think the pictures I took will tell the story just fine!

For Christmas morning Tom had convinced us that we should get up early, hike up the hill and watch the sunrise over the alps. That sounded great when we were drunk, not so great in the morning with a fuzzy head, a cold and a hangover. However Tom's most annoying morning exuberance won over and we all got up - and I'm glad we did. That morning was breathtaking. It was so funny we even had a Burmese Mountain dog with us, it doesn't get any better than that!

Boxing day found us in Zurmatt having a couple beers admiring the Matahorn. We had to take a car-train thingy and eventually a train up there. Zurmatt is like Banff on steroids where the rich and priviledged Euros come to play, oh and some more average North Americans as well! This place had Rolex and Prada stores to name a few. That evening we met up with an aquaintance of Tom's and proceeded to drink way too much wine and grappa. Tom didn't fair so well as his evening ended up with him in the shower area of our hostel, curled up in the fetal position. I figured a tiled floor was the best place for him and I went off to bed!

We had entertained thoughts of hiking part way up the Matahorn but our drunken revelry put the kibosh on that as walking was a chore for poor Tom. We had a great lunch and spend the afternoon sipping coffee and water. OK I had the coffee Tom had the water.

In the evening, we met up with more friends in a small mountain village and enjoyed more good food and gracious hosts.

Eventually my trip was coming to an end and I had to fly back home. I think British Airways had been fiendishly plotting against me all this time and on my way back to Calgary they managed to loose (or steal) my last bag. So I arrived in Calgary with the clothes on my back and my purse! My climbing bag never did arrive and I've called my insurance company to begin the lengthy process of replacing all my gear.

However I did just get a phone call that my other bag is being delivered tonight yipppee! That has my camera and photos, my gifties from Mammut and my chocolate.. hmm... chocolate.

I was shocked when I tallied up the replacement costs for all my climbing gear. If all goes well, British Airways will reimburse me enough to cover my deductable for my insurance and soon I will be getting new stuff. In the meantime I've managed to beg, borrow and steal enough gear to climb.

Lost luggage aside, Switzerland was an amazing trip, I owe Tom a debt of gratitude for letting me tag along and now I can say "I've been to Switzy Dahling!"