MAY 16-17-18 Denver, CO

Have been in Denver the past few days with my cousin Andy and his fiancee Jenny. So fun! Frisbee in the Cheesman park, hiking in Boulder, breakfast burritos, and climbing adventures.
Andy and I did a hike on Saturday in Boulder canyon scouting a bouldering site he wants to come back and climb. Unfortunately, we totally misread the directions and hiked for 5 or 6 miles in the wrong direction. Fun anyway, and good views (see below).

On Monday morning, Andy and Jenny and I met their friend Karl at the local coffee shop, St. Mark's. Jenny and I worked on the crossword puzzle over coffee and chai and almost finished it! (Only a few squares off--nobody knew a 5 letter word for "Norse poem", although everyone at the table contributed a few guesses in viking accents.) Afterwards, it was off to the county courthouse to get their marriage license. Karl and I went along as witnesses, although we proved useless as they aren't required. We were just glorified photographers, but it was fun anyway. (See below: the formal wedding party.)


License to wed secured, we set off to climb in Clear Creek Canyon, which is right outside of Golden, CO. I wish I could write an entry about how calm and collected and what an expert climber I turned out to be, but it wouldn't be true and it wouldn't be as funny as my real-life chicken adventure. Although I won't officially declare myself afraid of heights, I'm not a huge fan of being really far up on a cliff above a freeway and a rushing river.

I tried to play it cool, but I'm pretty sure my hardcore climbing cousins and friends saw right through me, as they literally had to hold my hand on the mountain goat-like trail up to the base of the climb. Our base camp was just steep enough that I almost felt more comfortable when I was on the rock with a rope because at least I was secured! We climbed a 5.7 difficulty route, for those of you who speak climberese. The very beginning of the climb had an overhang, so (although I really shouldn't divulge everything but I will), once I reached it I was helped up and over it by Jenny who was belaying me. The rest of the climb wasn't too bad if I kept my eyes on the rock. At one point they told me to enjoy the view, so I turned around and looked down, and then started sweating and almost threw up. So I didn't enjoy the view anymore. But--I made it up to the top, and that's what counts, right?

Watching Andy and Jenny climb was amazing. They are so collected and graceful and brave! Very inspiring. Jenny leading a climb on left, Look closely for Andy on right. He's up there.