Moving

Hello, faithful followers and those of you who randomly stumbled across this Blog. More Than Mountains and Minds has moved to a new address: mountainsandminds.blogspot.com If you wish to keep "Following" or reading about the thoughts and antics of Colter Lane, I encourage you to go to bookmark this new site immediately. Thanks bunches!

Finding a Job

When I got home from my road trip last November, I set my sights on getting a temporary/seasonal job that would last me through the ski season and pay for my gas money to the mountains until work for the Forest Service started up again in May. However, it has been a struggle. I filled out at least 6 online applications for random companies (Home Depot, Costco, Starbucks, WalMart, etc) hoping that they would need a position filled, to no avail. Then I applied for a technology assistant position with a local school district and didn't get the job since I had something lined up with the Forest Service next spring. With the current job situation as it is, everyone is willing to work menial jobs, not just ski bums or students. In the middle of December I took a job at UPS as a Driver Helper for the peak Holiday season. I made some money, it gave me something to do, and I made a new friend but somehow I feel cheated. As it was, my hourly wage was next to nil, but there was no communication from my "supervisor," I was shorted hours, and they let me go a week before they had said would be when I would stop being an employee. (Don't get me wrong, that extra week off allowed me a lot of ski time with my parents who had the week off from work as well, so I had my cake and ate it too...).

I am the most frustrated with myself. I started to get my self-worth and identity wrapped up in those job applications. Since stores weren't hiring me then that meant I wasn't good enough. They were rejecting me because they could find better. When I took the UPS job it was almost as though I was trying to snatch up a job just to show that I was capable of searching for a job and becoming employed, maybe not the best choice for making money or taking advantage of the best opportunities. Now, still without a job, I find myself stressing out about things I don't need to be worried about. This is my year off, I am having to tell myself, relax and breathe or it won't be worth it in the long run.

What I really need to do is turn this spring over to God. I am a loved child of His. I am a part of His plan. I am playing a part in what He wants accomplished in this valley this year. With time off, I have been able to be a part of peoples' lives that I wouldn't have been normally. I've been able to volunteer, hang out, and chill with people who need to be chilled with. By faith we are to walk, and I realize that I can allow God to work. If I find a job, it will be because that's where I'm needed. If I don't, then it is my responsibility to make the best use of my time for the Kingdom.

Climbing Rocks that are Red

The view of distant "red" rocks on the drive into the State Park.

I would never have thought it possible for me to find a rock climbing partner online while I was on a huge road trip, but it happened. Since climbers meet up in parking lots and campgrounds all the time, particularly in hot areas like Yosemite, the surprise was more from a view of my personality. On the introvert side of the personality spectrum, I'm not usually the out-going-strike-up-a-conversation-with-a-total-stranger type. Then there's the strange way I found the guy: picture an online dating site, but for climbers looking for climbing partners rather than dates. I posted a partner request on ClimbFind.com and got some responses for Southern California/Yosemite and one for Red Rocks just outside of Las Vegas, NV. I exchanged emails, text messages, and then phone calls with the one from Red Rocks and arranged a few days of camping and climbing.

On the hike in to climb Solar Slab, day two. A Joshua Tree in the foreground on the right, Brad in the lower-left corner, and the tan colored Solar Slab itself on the right side of the shadowed canyon directly above Brad.

After visiting the Hoover Dam area, I drove into Las Vegas, snagged a coffee at a local Starbucks while checking my email, and then straight through to the BLM campground just outside the Red Rocks State Park where I met Brad. We headed out that afternoon and explored the Magic Bus, a rather larger chunk of orangish-red rock about a 10-15 minute walk from the parking area. There were about 4-5 sport routes that we led with draws and top-roped. Brad took a pretty nasty leader fall on one of the last 5.9 routes, shaking him up pretty good, but he found redemption while flashing it while on a top-rope. The rock was rad: bullet sandstone of incredible color coated with a black varnish that weathered at a slower rate than the rock underneath forming 3D plate-like features all the way up the face. One of the routes was mixed trad gear and bolted protection and while leading it I got addicted to sinking solid stoppers in the waiting constrictions. Everything that I had read about Red Rock trad climbing was that the cracks readily accepted passive pro, and while initially apprehensive, I quickly agreed. Thus we were stoked to plan a bigger day of climbing the next day.

Leading Pitch 1 of Hangdogger Select. Notice the black varnish on the face: lots of bomber hand holds and fun "chicken-heads" to climb on.

After eating a lot of food for dinner and being treated to banana bread warmed over a skillet for breakfast the next morning, Brad and I meandered down the trail to reach the approach of the Solar Slab. We spent the majority of the morning on Hangdogger Select, a traditional 5.8, which tops out on an upper level from which Solar Slab (5.6) begins. I messed up on the belay of the first pitch, not going far enough before building an anchor, taking up precious time of our day. But we made it to the base of our intended climb early in the afternoon, almost sweating from the sun's radiant heat. Brad busted out a clown wig and sent the first pitch, including a classic hand crack, with style. We made it up 3 pitches before bailing due to cold and the impending night. It's crazy to go from the heat of the sun to shivering in a breeze and shade within a matter of hours. Rappelling off the larger ledge became somewhat of a fiasco since our ropes got stuck on the first pitch. We were sharing the rappel anchors down Solar Slab gully with a group of three girls from Outward Bound and were thankful to being able to use there ropes and help setting up the descent, even though getting down with 5 rather than 2 was more time consuming. Thankfully (not without many silent prayers) we made it out to the truck safely and with an epic story to tell.

Brad sporting his wig at the first belay on Solar Slab!

Leading Pitch 2 of Solar Slab. The giant flake was pretty simple to climb, but pretty scary to protect.

The next day, we were dragging pretty good due to extent of the day before. So we drove around and scratched our heads on what we wanted to climb. There is so much rock in the state park it's not even funny! I've seen at least 4 guide books to the area now and every one of them had routes in it that the others didn't and I wouldn't be surprised if there are other climbs out there that are newly climbed but not recorded. Not to mention the first ascent potential for an energetic team interested in new-routing... Back at the campground, Brad and I exchanged some final stories, contact information, and handshakes and I drove off into the sunset of the desert intent on making it around the Southern Sierras of California before making camp for the night.

Monday is a Fun Day!

What an amazing start to the New Year! The first Monday of 2011 kicked off with a great breakfast and conversation with of my best friends and brothers, talking about how good the message of the gospel is and how the contrast of the Law and Grace works out in our lives. I'd encourage you to check out Tim's blog on the subject.

Then it was off to some backcountry shralping ("shredding powder"...don't worry, I'm just getting used to the term too). My buddy Brandon, mentioned in some of my hunting escapades, and I went out with two other friends into the Nyack area of the Middle Fork of the Flathead and toured up the Skiuma Creek drainage. We skinned all the way to the ridge separating Skiuma from Rescue Creek and bombed back down 1500 or so vertical feet, blasting through the open trees and barely visible brush below. Can I hear anyone say "Coldsmoke" or "face-shots"? We made two laps before ascending a third time to the ridge and skiing off the Rescue Creek side for about 2500 feet of pure, untouched powder snow. Now by that time I was pretty beat and my descent of the run may have looked more like rolling head-over-heels rather than beautiful, perfectly linked, telemark turns but I could hardly contain the joy that I felt from flying down a slope surrounded by such amazing country. My only regret is that I forgot to bring my camera...

F is for Fun

Happy New Year! 2010 flew by, but not without some great adventures with good friends and loving family. I can't wait to see what the new year brings. I haven't worked on reviewing my goals and accomplishments this past year and then making new goals/resolutions for 2011, but that's on the ever-growing list of things to do. Hopefully I'll have something to post within the next couple of days.

I party-hopped a little last night to usher in the New Year, starting with a meal and games at a family's house from church and moving to a friend's house down the street for more snacks and games. I feel very lucky to have the love and support from so many friendly faces. They inspire me to be a better, more cheerful and loving, out-going person this next year. May I bless the lives of others as much as they bless me.

At midnight, I found myself on the side of a snow-covered hill where Flathead High School proudly displays a white 'F' that's visible from town. Our group saw fireworks amid the glowing lights of the town below and exchanged whoops and hollers with a party at a house near the base of the hill. There were ten of us that skinned up the F-Hill with our skis and enjoyed 6 inches of fresh snow on the ski down (6 inches of fresh snow on top of grass and rocks, yikes!). Now I just need to make myself some Junk Boards so I won't be so worried about ruining my skis. But it's still pretty cool to be able to ski some "backcountry" just minutes from downtown Kalispell.

Cheese and Apple Pie

We had left-over apple pie after Thanksgiving dinner this year (which never lasts very long around here) and I was struck by the memory of a savory slice of pie that I had in Abilene several weeks prior with my church family at Minter Lane. My good friend Anna Jane, who lived with her husband for several years in England, baked a pie that had cheese in the crust and said it was a British tradition to have cheese and apple pie. I figured it made perfect sense to me since many people enjoy fresh fruit and cheese. She also mentioned that apple pie with a melted slice of cheese on it would be a good breakfast and we laughed trying to figure out how many of the necessary food groups it would satisfy. I did some brief research and it seems like it's a traditional way to serve pie in Yorkshire with cheese. And someone claimed that years ago it was against the law to serve pie in Wisconsin without a slice of cheese on it.

My friends will telly you that I like to experiment with food combinations so naturally I had to try it. It's probably not the best thing for you, but with a hot cup of coffee, it would be tough to beat a slice of warm apple pie with melted cheese. Thanks Anna Jane!

The pie pictured is a slice of store bought apple pie with smoked gouda on top.

Christmas Skiing

Last Saturday was some of the best skiing I've had in a long time. Dad and I got up to the mountain early, rode the chair up, and headed off out of bounds for some "slackcountry." We skinned up above the fog and the clouds and enjoyed beautiful blue skies, warm sunshine, and heavenly views. The cherry on the cake was skiing fresh, sun-softened powder snow. Then it was back home for family, food, and gifts. My sister was able to come up and spend the afternoon and evening with us for Christmas and we had some much needed family time with all four of us. It's amazing how often I am reminded that no matter how much fun it is to climb or ski in the mountains, life is always made richer with other people, particularly family.

View from the top of Skookaleel Ridge.

Slab fractures in snowpack analysis tests. We still felt comfortable skiing the lower-angle terrain below us. I have to admit it's fun geeking out about snow and avalanche potential. I plan on becoming very proficient and knowledgeable in avalanche terrain this winter.