Road To...

We're committed. 

Second week of May, we're heading for Yosemite to climb The Nose. It's been a dream of mine to climb it since I started messing around on rocks, something I've always seen as a far off goal, to do when I've run out of more realistic goals. That changed last year when I was on my annual pilgrimage to the valley. JT and I had plans to climb Lurking Fear - plans that got downgraded to The Prow due to time and then to cragging due to weather. We got hosed with the weather, the forecast being both unpredictable and heinous throughout our stay. It kept us on the ground or close to it and we gave up on any multi day objectives. 

Serendipitously (I guess), the crap weather and resulting vacancy on the walls inspired us to tool around on the first few pitches of The Nose. Normally there'd be parties lining up to take a crack at the big stone but on the day we stepped up there was no one - anyone with 2 brain cells either hunkered down at their bivvy, topped out ASAP or held off their ascent till the so called atmospheric river was done dumping. 

We jumped on Pine Line (5.7), shimmied over to the start of P1 of The Nose and clustered our way up the first pitch. Honestly it was a total junk show but it ignited the idea that yes, this is doable. After screwing around trading leads and a microscopic rack, JT and I got to the first belay. I jugged the line, laughing maniacally as I approached the anchor, thousands of feet of granite looming above me and a firm belief that I could find my way up it. We had planned on climbing 3 more pitches but called it off due to rain and daylight but even though our mission was cut short, we had dipped our proverbial toe and saw that the ocean of rock was warm and inviting. 

That was last October and it's April now. We're going up in a few weeks and I can't contain my excitement. I framed a poster of El Cap and hung it above my office desk and I stare at it every day: learning the route; inspecting the features; planning the logistics; working out where we'll be and what it'll take to summit... 

Training has consisted of gym work outs (uphill treadmill, 4x4s and ARC training, weights), heavy bag hiking (carrying 40+ lb bags up the Culver City Stairs [[suicide laps]]) and climbing around SoCal (practicing Big Wall techniques). JT and I feel good, fit, strong, willful, excited. I'm so psyched to climb it with him, a bottomless well of good company. Over the next 3 weeks, I'll be trying to train 6 days a week, maybe with a rest or two before the big event. Feeling good. Feeling like I need to sort the jukebox and my menu out.