life and times

Have been taking it easy over the last week or so. Recently returned from multiple stringed together weeks of work - its just great to be home enjoying home cooked food, great espresso, dogs, climbing and riding with friends and loved ones. Some random photos and thoughts along this vein..

My steads. Recently tuned, upgraded and ready to go. Amazing how these 'investments in health' can provide so many good times. They are truly, good times providers.
I have recently upgraded the man cave to have more storage per square foot. Please don't be envious of the man cave...there is no use. Nope. not a bit. Yes, the man cave has grown over the years to embody everything that is good and pure in this world. Thats right. pure.
A recent anaerobic endevour on the flanks of Ha ling and area known locally as the 'highline trail'. Have been enjoying many linkups here lately, you can easily do 3 hours of riding on this side of the valley if you want to. Altough you can see mountain mercatto(home to stellar espresso) the whole time which can pose a problem with motivational values...here is Ryan and Zach, amigos.
Recently, Erin and I went to Saskatoon to enjoy some company with friends and partake in an evening at the Saskatoon jazz festival. Saskatoon is one of those great cities that people like to talk about with a far-off look in their eye; better times, simper times or maybe just the great and independently tinted dining options, cafes and art at every street corner that create this effect. Either way, its a great place to be on a sunny weekend. We had a really good time shopping, eating, packing light and enjoying some culture outside mountain view.
Yes, I have been climbing and slowly getting into summer shape. Un-injured this year I am expecting big things AND also lots of fun. A few days cragging in the US as well as a few local days including this one, climbing half way up guides rock before ensuing a 45 min, Iphone protecting deluge rappel with Zach.

Yeah friends! I hope life is good and you can enjoy the summer ahead.

The Brunser

Had a great day in Squamish with my friend Cory on Sunday climbing some classics in Murrin Park and scratching our granite itch, what an itch it is. Murrin is my favourite cragging spot in Squamish, hands down. The long technical and fantastical gear battles on Nightmare Rock, the hope of one day leading the shoulder eating "hypertension" and the many super-classics like washington bullets and the Brunser Overhang. Oh... The Brunser....

Everytime I come to Murrin I am drawn to this route. The headjamming, the delicate smearing, the burl and mostly the thrill of latching the "thank god" bucket hold on the top of the route, cutting your feet loose and screaming for allah, eternal sunshine or just the joy of the french fries you will soon be eating. Brunser has got to be one of my favourites there.

Bouldering

I love bouldering. I have spent many hours doing so. I hope to spend many, many more. Thats right. Being from the Rockies it is not often that one gets to partake in such endeavours so I am usually tickled pink when I can get away to a warm locale for work and squeeze, crimp and slap my way up a few boulders...This past week in Salt lake was no exception and much fun was had by a very motivated group.

Zcaaack!
Mike on a very, very nice problem - getting intimate with the nuances of this micro grip.
Slap!
Tools of the trade.