A couple of my friends were moving from Oregon to California, so my wife and I met them for the drive down to spend some time in Oregon's High Desert.
But first we went to Vancouver, BC for our anniversary.
The weather was not super conducive to climbing.
So we spent the day at Stanley Park and the aquarium.
A couple days later we took a puddle-jumper to Portland, met our friends, and headed off to Bend.
The weather was still a bit spotty the next day, so we checked out some of the sights around Bend.
First the High Desert Museum, which we caught just in time for its raptor show.
Marahute!
Then to the lava tubes.
But the next couple days were forecast to be all sunny!
Smith Rock from the approach to The Marsupials. Broken Top and The Three Sisters in the background.
Arriving at Koala Rock.
First line of the trip!
Like being in the gym. ;)
Sick brah!
Advantages of being a small climber: my off-width is Mrs. l.e.f.h.'s flared chimney.
Back to town.
Forecast for day 2 at Smith Rock is high 80's, but it's going to take more than that to keep us away!
Disadvantage of being a small climber: I remember that cross being quite a bit less of a stretch.
Crankin'!
Only gripe of the trip came when I tried to run up the left crack in this chimney to access a toprope anchor above it and found everything to my right literally dripping with rat piss. Fortunately I got to share my misery with my cleaner.
Taking a moment to enjoy the view.
Yours truly on my favorite climb of the trip. Would love to see some fixed pro on it to take away its X rating.
So damn good it deserves another picture.
Nutria building a nest. Cool critter count for the trip included them, river otters, an osprey, and, on the drive home, a bald eagle!
We'll be back!