This post is going to be mostly about me (Logan)! As the author of this blog, I get to be self-indulgent like that every once in a while.
So, this last weekend I had a birthday and I couldn't have asked for a better mix of activities. For starters, I got off work a little early on Friday and met a friend who was waiting for me in the driveway of my home. Five minutes later we were on the freeway, music playing on the radio and expectations high. We were climbers after all, and we were headed to the mountains. Things were bound be be good.
An alpine start the next day saw us on the approach for our chosen route on Asgard Sentinel. In the early light we worked our way up through the forest and rushing streams to the point where we broke above tree-line and entered the wonderworld that is the Central Cascades. This is the kind of place that doesn't seem like it should exist in real life. The kind of place that makes you believe in magic. The kind of place that makes you want to pull back the curtain that is surely in front of your eyes and see what kind of special effects are being used. But there are none. That is the trick. This place really is that amazing and that beautiful. It is no wonder the name of our climb is "Acid Baby," because the whole time you are up there it feels like you must be on some sort of trip. The air is too clear, the mountains, too perfect, the feelings, too light, and the climbing- well, the climbing is just incredible in the fullest sense of the word. What a day.
As for the climb itself, we moved easily and efficiently up the rock. Every single pitch was unique and the movement, engaging. The positions were unreal, as might be expected, and the runouts were just spicy enough to be exciting without ever crossing over into the realm of scary. Eric was a fantastic partner to have, and the safe-but-chill vibe of the day was exactly what I was hoping for. In all, it was a marvelous way to turn 39 years old.
The morning after the climb was relaxed and we arrived home just in time for the birthday party. Now, I know that if you are reading this and I told you that I just had a birthday, you might expect that this party was for me. But you would be wrong. If you really knew our family though, then it would make perfect sense to you that this party was actually for Lindsey, who turned seven on July 3rd. That's just how we roll.
The party was good. Fun was had. Pizza was consumed. So was candy. And cake. And sweet drinks- those were consumed also. I am a dentist, so I consider this my contribution to our profession. Also, presents were given. Piñatas were smashed. Friendships, strengthened. Games, played. Memories, created. Sort of. Come to think of it, I don't know many people who actually remember anything about their seventh birthday party. But Lindsey will read this one day and trust that we aren't just making it up and then think that maybe she actually does have a memory of it after all. Also, we took all her friends and flew them to Disneyland. Really.
That evening, Rach and I went out to Arbor Crest, a beautiful vineyard, wine cellar, and garden property set in a dramatic position overlooking the Spokane Valley. It was a beautiful evening with one of our favorite local bands providing the entertainment. The sunset paired well with the Epicurean cuisine, and as we lounged on the patio it was difficult to imagine a better way to spend a weekend.
As for the rest of our kids, they are great. All of them attended a youth camp last week- the older four for the entire week, and Lindsey for a few days. Evelyn was old enough to be in a group that canoed across the lake for a camping trip, but the rest stayed in cabins. They all said they had fun, but we have no photos since we weren't there.
Other than that, things are pretty much normal, which, around here in summertime, means good things. Beach days, hikes, bike rides, and other outdoor activities are perfect. North Idaho, when not covered in a dense cloud of smoke, is amazing.
Have a good week!
No comments:
Post a Comment