Full late season ice climbing report on Vertical Hallucination blog. Check it out!!!! Includes the last two days of ice climbing up on Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Early Retirement: Let the Wild Rumpus Begin
I awoke last Saturday morning to my cell phone blasting, shaking off the cobwebs from the “last day of work” party with co-workers, the first words out of my father’s mouth are, “You and I have two things in common now son, we’re both retired.”
Early retirement. Three days in and waiting to head south, all the realism is finally creeping into my thoughts. Finances, goals, and what lies ahead have all been hitting me hard this last couple of days. It’s going to be very strange coming from a great job and financially/socially comfortable to scraping by and probably not knowing too many people. These of course are the associations with the path I’m choosing to head down, however, already I feel myself slowly changing, being more reflective, cautious, and somewhat sad in knowing that I won’t be able to see those I care about for quite some time. The goodbyes are bittersweet, not the dramatics that I envisioned, simply a “I’m not sure when I’ll see you again.”
Already in the first week my plans have been altered. As planned, today would have been the day to head south to kayak, however due to illness and squeezing in one more machinist’s paycheck, Kiffy, a paddling friend and travel companion, opted that we depart on Friday, the 18th.
John Kiffmeyer is an interesting man. One with a laugh as contagious as his modesty, I first met Kiffy last spring at the Lower St. Louis River put-in, as his 6′ 3″ skinny frame limping out of a cramped Subaru, cigarette dangling from his lip, beer spilling in right hand. Missing the party side of the kayaking scene I knew that Kiffy and I would probably get along well. One of the more positive and supportive men I’ve ever met, he’s a paddler that’s travelled the world, in rivers ranging from the Zambezi in Africa to the jungle streams of Costa Rica. His paddling skills are as extensive as his travels as he holds many first descents in the Lake Superior region, can be viewed on numerous films pertaining to the whitewater industry, and seemingly enough has shared an eddy with who’s who’s of the sport. Looking up to Kiffy since I’ve met him last spring as a paddling resource and a friend, I couldn’t think of a better partner nor person to explore the rivers of this continent. A photo of John can be viewed on the “Yee WhO Rock” page, he will probably always be the guy with the crazy chops.
Until Friday the plans are to ascend a ice climb that I’ve been trying to climb for the last two years but due to poor ice conditions and timing, have been unsuccessful. “Nightfall”, on the Devil Track River near Grand Marais, Minnesota, is a 185 foot, two pitch ice climb that generates it’s name because parties often find themselves battling darkness while still on the somewhat committing route. Coupled with a mile hike up the beautiful and intimidating Devil Track Canyon, the climb goes WI 3-4 in difficulty, meaning almost completely vertical. It’s a true gem for the Midwest and I’m anxious to get back on it with good climbing partner and friend Kendra. We depart tomorrow at 7am, photos will be posted here soon. Click the thumbnail below to view “Nightfall”.
Closing out, sans the fear, departing emotions, and an extended departure date, early retirement is going ROCK! 