Mini Escapes

We have spent part of the last three weekends in Leavenworth. All three days, we left pouring rain and dark clouds and ended up spending a full day in warm sunshine, just 1.5 hours away.

The first weekend was spent at the Bike & Brew race (last post). A couple weekends ago, we climbed a 2-pitch 5.7 trad route called 'New Fixtures'.

The first pitch was pretty basic and not that interesting, but the second was a lot of fun, involving some stemming between a column and the main face. 

A walk back in the evening sun down a hillside of lupin and tiger lilies and dinner of brat sausages. As we pulled back into the driveway at home, our skin still felt warmed even though it was dark, dreary, and extremely wet.

This last weekend, I headed back to see my sister Carly. We did a flat, easy 4-mile loop hike called 'Icicle Gorge'. It was nice to be outside and to catch up on life together, but the hike was not really picture- or note-worthy. We then headed to 8-mile rock and did a couple fun climbs: Mickey's Mantle (5.7) and Deception Crack (5.9).

Carly on Deception Crack

Again, I pulled back in home, revived after spending the day in 75 degree sunshine, ready to face the monsoon month of June here in Western WA.