living close to the earth

okay, i found another home.

the obed in tennessee is everything i want in a climbing destination.

there are sport routes that are nicely bolted, and there is bouldering as well. there are a number of crags in a number of locations, to keep it interesting. the hike is just long enough to warm you up, but not too difficult. the rock feels like a mix between the red river gorge, and horsepens 40. slopey ledges, and tough-textured sandstone. there are routes capped with large ceilings so you can climb when it's raining. you can also climb the large ceilings (mostly 12's and 13's) but most of them have fixed gear. i'm hoping to get over my lead head and be taking happy whippers off roof climbs. a girl can dream.

the bouldering is great... there's one wall at the lilly boulders that is just like climbing in the gym... it's slightly overhanging with all sorts of holds. you can pick an existing line to work, or make something up (hence the gym comparison). it began to piss-pour rain while we were bouldering yesterday and we just kept on going until the holds got damp. but hey, i hear that climbing in dirty shoes on wet rock helps technique. or something.

the camping is perfect. it's a climber friendly campground on the property of the nicest people in the world. i was the only one there yesterday and they provided me with firewood to get through the cold night, and offered me the cabin to stay in. i was fine in my tent, but still, the offer was greatly appreciated.


red, the uber-large dog, and i are getting along. she got a bit of my dinner last night and ate around the portobello mushrooms. what i'm eating is a far cry from dog food, and occasionally when she's hungry enough she eats the cheap dog food i bought for her. we go for walks together and she looks out for me. i'm sleeping well with a large dog slumbering away outside the tent.

today is a rest day since i am sore, and conveniently enough it snowed as well last night. Red slept in the yurt last night since she wasn't impressed when i offered her the vestibule of my tent.

i expect to be in the obed for a while. when it's sunny, the south facing crags really heat up. boy was i surprised to be climbing in a sports bra on wednesday! there is a lot to do here, an endless source of projects for me. the above-mentioned gym-like wall in the bouldering area has a v7 if you traverse the entire thing. the wall is at least 50ft long. so if i have no partners, i can go work on a really long overhanging traverse. that should keep me busy!

no pictures of the route climbing since i was either climbing or belaying. i'll mix in some pictures of the bouldering, before and after the rain.

it's about an hour drive to find a wireless signal, so the posts will probably be written offline and all be posted at the same time. can't wait to go climbing again tomorrow ... it's really hit me, i just live to climb right now and that makes me so incredibly happy.