One Greatest Day

Wednesdays forecast, through word of mouth called for precipitation, but as I roused at 7:30 am, promising Matt to meet him for a day of climbing, a cloud couldn't be seen. I made an amazing breakfast, melting cheese into egg and then onto a peanut buttered with beacon bagel, to create the ultimate breakfast sandwich. I drank tea by the creek, in a perfectly shaped rock chair, reading a book. As I finished a chapter, with great timing, I heard Matt stroll up. We headed for a good warm up of highballs and slab, then headed for his project (Soul Slinger). We spent some time there trying it, me stubbornly trying my own beta. With one burn to go Matt coaxed me to try the 'regular' beta, "It's good to stick to beta, but keep an open mind". I did it that go and for the rest of the day insisted to everyone it was easy, having Gordo giving me a hard time after he later attempted it, "have you done this slab Thomas?" "Oh, is it easy?"

Matt and I meandered back to my camp to enjoy a restful lunch, I made a grilled cheese with ham, onion and mushrooms. We had green tea with goji berries Matt happened to have. At this time, the wind that was keeping the sending temps around all morning picked up and a storm front began to build over western mountains. We warmed back up and tried a few climbs before clouds and snow engulfed the Butter Milks (though Gordo reasoned me into trying one more climb as tomorrow was a rest day, we were warm and he was psyched).

As the Snow fell harder I wondered alone south down the path to my creek side camp when startled in front of me, the largest group of deer I've seen, standing shoulder to shoulder. Thirty plus deer mostly mule with the odd buck, all stood staring right at me. I stopped and observed them for some time. They move north around me slowly, at one point spooked by some other course, half the group bounded quickly off. I gathered dinner and cooked from the door of my tent. Snow continues softly.