Pre-Trip: An Introduction

Nick and I have been planning this trip for the last 6 months, and it's hard to believe it's almost here! After all the Olympic madness, and after I finish UBC's check-out madness, it will be nice to have a good three weeks to relax and get in some camping and time on the rocks (not to mention miles on the new truck)! We're also planning on bringing my banjo and Nick's fiddle, which neither of us have played much since we moved in February. We're going to be those obnoxious campers in the next site over, drinkin' and carrying on until late in the evening. That is, if we don't ruin our fingers climbing during the day :)

The itinerary is as follows. It will be interesting to see how it changes over the course of the trip:

Day 1, May 8th: Get up bright and early and drive to Steamboat Rock State Park, via Abbotsford and the North Cascades Highway. Stops in Winthrop/Twisp (Ger's birthplace).

Day 2, May 9th: Get up bright and early and go for a hike up Steamboat Rock, where my Dad's ashes are scattered. Perhaps attempt to boulder a bit on the rocks (at the BOTTOM!), since they are rated. Pack up camp and leave for Boise, ID. We'll stop for lunch at the burger joint we always stopped at when we left Banks Lake camping every summer. Adventure of the day = finding a campsite, ideally in the Boise National Forrest!

Day 3, May 10th: Hang out in the Boise area in the morning. Maybe go for a short morning hike to stretch our legs before the drive to Salt Lake City (hereafer referred to as "the SLC", because I'm cool like that) to see Nolte!!

Day 4, May 11th: City day in the SLC and beyond. Nolte has hinted at some local climbing, and I'd like to check out Temple Square. I may have to rewatch SLC Punk and figure out all the 80s-hardcore things I want to do, like ditch a stolen car in the Great Salt Lake :)

Day 5, May 12th: Get up bright and early and endure the Marathon drive to Fort Collins/Greeley, CO and stay overnight with McGuinness! Hopefully a brewery tour shall commence, and later some snuggling with goats :)

Day 6, May 13th: Up bright and early again, and on the road to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (our first National Park) via Denver. Lunch stop over, obviously, at Casa Bonita. We will definitely post pictures with the cliff divers, in Black Bart's Cave, and eating delicious sopapillas!

Day 7, May 14th: All day at Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Hopefully the climbing won't be too advanced, and hopefully the weather won't be too rainy/thundery. Although a good storm might be kind of adventurous. Hey, I've got rain pants, bring it on!

Day 8, May 15th: Total marathon drive-fest. First leg of the trip takes us down to the Grand Canyon, where we have a bit of time to gaze out at the vista. The debate at this point is South Rim vs. North Rim. South Rim technically has a shorter drive, but could be mobbed with tourists, which could actually add the hour difference of the trip to the North Rim. The North Rim won't have as many tourists, but on paper is a longer, possibly less scenic drive. There is also the possibility of skipping the Grand Canyon all together and just marathoning from Black Canyon to Zion if we are sick of driving by that point. Also, one stop on the trip must be made to procure enough beer to celebrate Nick's birthday (since we will be re-entering Utah/crazy-liquor-law-land). Endpoint: Zion National Park, climbing mecca!

Day 9, May 16th: All day at Zion. I fully intend my fingers to be raw, and my back to be sunburnt.

Day 10, May 17th: Nick's Birthday! Also, a "quick" 3 hour drive to Bryce Canyon, home to much-lauded hiking and vistas.

Day 11, May 18th: After sleeping on post-Nick's-Birthday hangover, we travel to Las Vegas! Staying overnight in a swanky room at the Monte Carlo. We're only there overnight, so we won't have the time for the gun range or a show. But I fully plan on enjoying drinking-whilst-shopping, having escargot at Daniel Boulud Brasserie, and observing the general hedonism of the Strip!

Day 12, May 19th: Ger's Birthday (will seriously be missing my puppy by this point). We will be headed early to Red Rocks (you have to get there early, or else you get heatstroke!) for some morning climbing, and then to Joshua Tree National Park for some more climbing!

Day 13, May 20th: All day at Joshua Tree. Soaking up more of the desert for me, perhaps a little bit of heat-misery for Nick (he's crazy and doesn't like the dry heat like I do).

Day 14, May 21st: Up bright and early to tackle L.A. traffic. Lunch in Santa Monica, hopefully by the pier, and then cutting north and east to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park. No campsite booked, so hopefully we can find something pretty :) Another adventure!

Day 15, May 22nd: Climbing/hiking day and Kings & Sequoia.

Day 16, May 23rd: Not too long of a drive to Yosemite National Park and some good bouldering!

Day 17, May 24th: Some climbing in the morning, and then off to San Francisco. Or more specifically, Lafayette and Aunt Terry's beautiful home! We will probably spend a large part of this day in the pool relaxing and catching up. I also want to get in a much needed cooking lesson from our master chef host!

Day 18, May 25th: A city day in San Francisco! I want to check out the Mission District for some good shopping and lunch at 'wichcraft, Tom Colicchio's sandwich restaurant. Nick really wants to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and then we'll see where the evening takes us!

Day 19, May 26th: On the road again, this time to Redwoods National Forrest. Another adventure in campsite finding, but hopefully the day will bring a nice hike and a nice evening under some big trees.

Day 20, May 27th: Marathon drive up the California and Oregon coasts to Manzanita, where we will be staying at the Inn at Manzanita, a little bed and breakfast. A good way to end the trip and collect ourselves before we have to re-enter the real world!

Day 21, May 28th: Long-haul drive from Manzanita to Mom's in Lynnwood to prep for Alicia's Bridal Shower. Perhaps a stopover in Portland to grab a bite and drop into West Elm and Powell's in the Pearl District.

It should be an exciting trip! We're planning on getting together a few car games, burning a bunch of new CDs to listen to, and taking a lot of pictures. We are bringing the computer on the trip, so hopefully we'll run into enough random wifi to be able to update on a decent basis. Also, we have a car charger for the laptop, so even if posts only get updated every few days, I intend to journal for at least a few minutes every day. And expect pictures :) Maybe not all the ones we take until we have time to upload them at the end of the trip, but definitely a highlight of the day!

Happy Trails!

~Brie~