If you climb, you have heard the term (and probably experienced) Alpine Start. For you non-climbers, an Alpine Start is where we get up before the sun comes up in order to get a head start on other groups, to ensure you are on a summit prior to daily storms moving in, or just because you are a complete freak and like getting up before the average human. Yes, I am partial to alpine starts. While climbing in Canada and on Mt. Rainier it was often a necessity. Now don't get me wrong, when you are out on a day climb on some back country ice you had better get up early before the sun makes the ice all the more dangerous. When avalanches are a concern you need to get your rear out of the tent and moving before the sun softens the slabs and the chorus of avalanches starts. Unless you dance to the beat of the avalanche drummer, you need to get up and get moving.
This weekend we took Friday and Monday off. We intended to pack it so full of climbing that we wouldn't' be able to lift our Corona's at the end of the day. Yeah, well at least we thought the plan was good. Instead, we drank so many Corona's (each night) that we could barely get out of bed the next morning and the prospect of the long hike(s) in changed our motivation from 100% to about.... well non existent. The last few nights have entailed a couple of bonfires, a lot of beer, a couple of hilarious stories around the fire, and Doug dancing on a pallet and burning his leg hairs off. But all weekend long (thus far) our plan to get that early morning start, has kind of been...well.. lost. Being the optimists that we are (that would be Cody and I) we decided that we didn't ruin our day. No - we have just created a new catch phrase. A new strategy. It's called the "Sub-Alpine Start". No need to get up early. We are in the middle of our monsoon season here in Durango. Most people (ie: those who don't stay up too late) would think that starting early would be the logical step. Not us! Nooo ! We start late. Sleeping in (which is not normal for our family) give you more energy. Then, when most people are running from the daily storms, we roll in and take over the crag (climbing area for you non-climbers). Everyone is running from the lightning and rain. Not us...nooooo... we are hard core. REAL climbers. We pity those poor souls who are afraid of a little lightning and rain. We are real men (and women). Mountain folk. Lightning is just a small hazard that we face and overcome. We eat lightning for breakfast and piss fire all day. Ok, not really. We got started late all weekend. I blame it on Cody (pictured above). He held me down and forced me to drink Corona's every night this weekend. I think he may have even duct taped a beer bong to my noggen. The evidence lies in the lack of any hair running a loop around my head approximately 4 inches wide. Plus the lack of hair in said region. Hold on I gotta go run and grab another. Then he MADE me sleep in. No really - he forced me. I think he slipped something in my beer. Yup, it's all his fault. But !!! We have coined a new phrase and we may have started a trend that could catch on. Probably not - but wishful thinking. Tomorrow we are getting up early though. For sure !!! We are heading out to Sailing Hawks for a little bouldering. We will (FORE SURE) get an early start tomorrow....... so the next time your buddies try to get you out of bed early...just tell them that you are more apt to the Sub-Alpine starts. Don't be an over achiever.
No comments:
Post a Comment