Road Trip Chronicles: Summary Story
“So wait, you drove out here?”
Asks my friend as they see my Massachusetts license plate, gesturing to the mountains that surround us in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s the end of May and we are here attending the IFSC World Cup events in Speed, Bouldering, and Paraclimbing; a string of events spanning 10 days of back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back competition.
“Hah, yeah.” I answered as I shrugged and smiled, “Wouldn’t want to miss this.”
“And how long did that take?” They queried.
“Well I first drove out to Eugene, Oregon, which took about 6 days.”
“All the way from Massachusetts?”
“Hah, yeah”, I smiled and shrugged again, “I made a stop in Rochester, New York and Denver, Colorado as well. They were on the way so I figured I’d do some afternoon trips. Then I barely dropped off my bags in Eugene and I was off to Seattle, Washington for the weekend. Went back to Eugene for a few days then drove here, to Salt Lake City.”
“Wait, so how long have you been traveling?”
“About a month for this trip, but I’ve basically been traveling since the beginning of the year.”
“Oh? And where else have you gone?”
Intrigued, my friend pulled up a chair and sat. They gestured for me to sit down, then lifted their hand and untwisted the cap from their water bottle, taking a sip.
“I came out west in January, going from Massachusetts to Lander, Wyoming.” I began, taking a seat next to them. “From Lander I drove to Eugene, Oregon, traveling through the Grand Teton National Park. I spent some time in Oregon, traveled to Bend and Portland. In February I went down to the Bay Area in California and drove Rt. 1 back up the California coast. Then went to Seattle and explored some of northern Washington. Went back to Eugene before heading to Salt Lake City, Utah for a few days. From Salt Lake I went to Chicago, Illinois, then back to Massachusetts for the beginning of March. I stayed in the northeast for three weeks before flying down to Birmingham, Alabama for a week. Came back to the northeast for the month of April before heading back out west.”
“Wow and this was all for climbing?” They asked.
“LOL no.” I chuckled, “When I was younger I dreamed of traveling just to climb, but my life has so much depth to it now. Of course I did some climbing, but I traveled to these places to visit with friends I’ve desperately missed and to go on adventures. There is beautiful limestone at Sinks Canyon in Wyoming that I got to climb on with good friends; friends I have been unable to see because of the pandemic. They have a newborn now and it felt lovely to be a part of their lives for a few days. Oregon is where my bestfriend resides, so initially the big push to travel was to go spend some time out there with her. Which I did; we got to climb on porous basalt over at Eagles Rest in the Willamette Valley, where I snapped some cool photos. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of style from the limestone I had climbed a week prior.”
“Oh you take photos, too?”
“As a hobby, yeah. Maybe one day it will turn into something. But for now I’ve been enjoying leisurely taking landscape shots throughout my travels. If I see something beautiful and it’s the right moment, I’ll pull over and pop out of my sunroof to get the shot! ”
“Hah, that’s funny. So did you do any other climbing in Oregon?”
“I did a lot of climbing, but mostly indoors. I climbed at Elevation Bouldering Gym quite a bit. It’s a small local gym in Eugene and the climbs are creative and fun; the head routesetter really understands movement. The community is nice, too. I also went to Movement Portland, which was one of the biggest gyms I’ve ever been in. They had a Pride flag hanging at the entrance which made me feel more welcome than I have entering other gyms back east. So many climbs there that I only scratched the surface of what was available before being too tired. However this trip I prioritized spending time with my bestfriend and going on adventures around the state. I went cross country skiing for the first time, explored the old growth forests, hiked buttes, camped under the stars…as well as climbed a bit.”
“Did you go to Smith Rock?”
“I’ve been to Smith Rock before, but it was right before the pandemic. I still need to explore it more. Next time.”
“So what brought you to the Bay Area?”
“I went to the Bay Area for a friends’ wedding. I had a wonderful time, made tons of new friends and there was so much dancing! I did get to see what a usual Cali gym session is like, while bouldering with friends at Movement Santa Clara. My friends and I kept giggling about the fact that it was a beautiful day and the gym was packed - in the northeast everyone would be enjoying the outdoors on a day like this! I could have done more climbing in the Bay Area, but honestly I was more interested in catching up with friends and taking photos of my drive up the coastline. I happened to see the sunset AND moonset off of the Pacific coast! Then I slept along the beach, falling asleep to the sound of the crashing waves.”
“Wow, that sounds like a great time. So what did you do next?”
“Next I made a quick stop in Eugene, then trekked to Seattle to attend the Youth Northwest Divisional Bouldering Championships at Vertical World North. I camped with my friend in northern Washington and went on a day long hike. Although I didn’t do a lot of climbing while I was out there, I did get to watch a lot of climbing at the event. It was a good networking opportunity too; comparing and contrasting my experiences attending this event for many years in the northeast versus this event in the northwest. Before I left town I did get to session at this little bouldering gym called Uplift Climbing. They had fun problems and my climbing partner kept the competitive pressure on me, which kept me trying hard problems until I was thrashed.”
At this point I needed a sip of water too. I grabbed my fizzy water and took a sip; lime flavor and bubbles coating my tongue. We both sat in silence for a moment, taking in the warm sunny afternoon nestled in the mountains.
“Alright so Utah came next. Did you do any climbing the last time you were here?”
“Well it was the dead of winter so besides getting in a a decent hike I didn’t care to climb outdoors. I did however get to both of the Front Climbing Gyms in Salt Lake City. Both times I bouldered with a good friend who is overcoming an injury. We had a lot of fun pushing one another. What I really came to Salt Lake for was the opportunities to network with friends and to head over to USA Climbing’s headquarters. As DEI committee chair for the organization there’s a lot of stuff I wanted to talk about in-person to prep for the rest of the season. I’m glad I did, it’s always more productive for me to have conversations in person.”
“Cool stuff! Then it was off to Chicago, I presume not for climbing?”
“Actually Chicago was for climbing! But specifically coaching climbing. I co-coached a paraclimbing training camp for Team ACG at Brooklyn Boulders Chicago. It was an absolutely amazing experience. My co-coach and I meshed really well and were able to pull off an excellent training camp for the participants. I haven’t felt a flow state like that since pre-pandemic. It certainly has been a confidence booster for me and the future of my career.”
“That’s cool to hear. So did Alabama have anything to do with paraclimbing?”
“Yeah! USAC hosted the Paraclimbing National Championships and High Point Climbing and Fitness in Birmingham. I had three athletes competing, two of which are here competing at the Salt Lake World Cup! Nationals was an epic event, I always enjoy the company of the paraclimbing community. I made a lot of friends, ate good barbeque, and dressed up for a prom themed after party. I did get to do some climbing as well! I went night bouldering at Moss Rock Preserve. There was this neat little cave that had some stellar problems going through it. I flashed this funky V4 and tried the V10 extension through the cave. It was fun pulling hard and not caring whether or not I sent the climb. For me, it was about the adventure and experience of bouldering in the southeast.”
“Wow. So cool that you’ve had the opportunity to travel so much. Did you do any climbing once you went back home to the northeast?”
“Oh yeah my homebase is in central Massachusetts, so between outdoor crags and gyms I can get to a good dozen or so climbing destinations within an hour radius. I tend to frequent Farley Ledges, where there is some world class gneiss. Usually gneiss is sturdy but back in April my climbing partner pulled a massive hold off of a climb called Raining Buckets! Fortunately he was able to control the drop, which safely missed me and made its way to the ground. Yet a good reminder why everyone at the crag should be wearing a helmet!”
“Crazy! So fast forward. Now that you’re back out west have you done any climbing?”
“Oh I’ve been climbing at all of the local gyms here is Salt Lake, as well as on my way here. I hit up Central Rock in Watertown, Massachusetts before I left, then Central Rock in Rochester, New York. In Denver I briefly checked out Movement, then spent some time at Elevation Bouldering Gym in Eugene. When I went back up to Seattle I didn’t climb, but I did attend the Youth Northwest Divisional Sport Climbing Championships at Vertical World North. So lots of climbing was watched. Again it was really fun to compare and contrast this divisional from the past divisional events I’ve attended in the northeast. To be honest though, I’m not sure how much outdoor climbing I’ll get in this trip despite how much climbing I’m watching. There are a lot of friends I want to connect with and if we get the opportunity to climb, great! If not, that is fine because I’ll get to spend quality time regardless of the adventure. But the best part about climbing is that it’s a lifestyle sport. I don’t compete anymore so I don’t have to maintain the same standard of training. At this point in my life I’m enjoying spending time with the climbing community, growing peoples knowledge in the sport, and pulling on rocks when the opportunity presents itself.”
“Wow, okay cool. Yeah I like that perspective about climbing and the community. So you’re just living out of your Subaru, huh?”
“Hah yeah, as well as bouncing around friends houses and airbnb’s. But honestly the car camping is nice. I’m the perfect size to lay flat with the seats down. Plus I love to explore.”
“And you’re able to maintain this lifestyle with your career?”
“Well I’ve worked hard to get to where I am now. I created my own virtual coaching business with the hopes of being able to travel out of my car and adventure, as well as travel to watch my athletes on the competition floor. Making large sacrifices, going all in with my virtual coaching and believing in myself is what ultimately got me here. My love for my work and my clients is keeping me here! Honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m so happy.”
“Damn. Sounds like you’re living the dream!”
“Oh I am absolutely living my dream and it is fantastic.”
We both look at each other, smiling. I’m smiling because my friend is right, I’m truly living my dream. I presume my friend is smiling because they understand how much it means to make a dream a reality. We sit in silence again, enjoying the way the afternoon sun hits the mountainside. There is a soft breeze. Applause from the bouldering stage lingers in the air.
“Well cheers, friend.”
As my friend lifts his water bottle, I lift my fizzy water can. We nod and clink our vessels together, saying a “cheers” and simultaneously taking a long drink.
“Your turn to tell me about your life.” I stated. “How’s 2022?”
We sat for awhile, my friend exchanging stories about sobriety, competitive rock climbing, and other life obstacles. We celebrate the wins and sympathize in the pains. I’m forever grateful for the deep, introspective conversations I have with my friends. Grateful for this opportunity to live out my dreams as reality. Even more grateful that I have the capacity to share these sentiments in writing.
Stay tuned for the next chapter…