Sawtooths

A quick four days in the Sawtooths allowed us to get in three summit routes. After 28 pitches and three nasty descents, Miranda really wanted more but I insisted we hurry home to take care of business.

Back East: Acadia and Martha's Vineyard

Lone Peak with Adam

Uintas Day 5

Uintas Day 4

Uintas Day 3

Uintas Day 2

Uinta Mountains Trip with Ezra-Day 1

Backpacking in the 'Desolation Wilderness' near Tahoe

We then set off on a couple days of hiking, meeting Jason and Diane at camp later in the day. It was a nice conclusion to our time in CA, including countless lakes and beautiful views.
Note Miranda's facial expression as Maggie is about to knock the camera into a lake.

Lake Tahoe and Reno

Next stop Tahoe and Reno where Maggie and her chauffeurs were met (Miranda and Diane). Fine food and drink were enjoyed as well as swims in lakes and a shower.

Unfortunately, Miranda's 13-inch (tiny) mountain bike found a new owner in Reno.

We were off to Truckee during the heat wave and managed a rugged week of car-camping, senior hikes, swimming and even a shakespeare play on the lake.

Yosemite

We made it to Tuolumne the next day to begin a daily battle with time and rain. Fortunately, we managed to eat and drink plenty.
That was as close to half-dome as we got. Chris seemed to be distracted while taking a picture of the half-dome. Every night we wrote letters home.

Rich and Chris

The Incredible Hulk in the Sierras was easy to get to after negotiating an evil RV park.

Our first climb up the Red Dihedral was uneventful (despite simul-climbing a couple 5.8/5.9 pitches), but getting down proved to be quite a chore.

Positive Vibrations, the next day's more serious objective, was a fine climb with long sustained pitches. I somehow was put on lead on the loose 5.11a traverse with remotely located cams in a thin flake. The second 11a wasn't that pretty, but at least I didn't cry like Chris did. Despite this, we worked our way up 8 pitches and over 1000ft of climbing (top of pitch 7 per the guide) until hail and rain let loose. With lightning so close and rapidly falling body temperatures, we weren't quite sure how it was going to work out. After writing long good-bye love letters to wives and family, we promptly retreated down. 12 rappels, a fair amount of lost gear (coincidentally nearly all Chris'), 2 stuck ropes and 'less' rain and lightning, we made it to the ground to awaiting celebratory drinks. We left the next day with another bigger storm building.