For those of you who've been following my rather dramatic life transformation, you know I made some pretty bold statements at the beginning. I still mean all of them. I still refuse to settle for a less-than-meaningful life. I still want to learn and grow and embrace life beyond my comfort zone. The issue at the moment is, that while bold statements look good on paper, real life is actually a bit less exciting.

This was not the type of comfort zone stretching I was expecting.

Last summer two friends and I climbed the Durance route on Devils Tower in Wyoming. It was a highlight of my summer, to say the least. This huge igneous intrusion, exposed through years of weathering and erosion, stands like giant petrified stump in the flat Wyoming landscape. The first time I visited the Tower I was 13 years old, in a 24 foot RV with six other people. It was cozy. I never thought that 13 years later I’d be standing at the top. That’s not what this story is about though. Getting to the top was relatively easy compared to our adventure getting back down.

BEST BIRTHDAY WEEKEND EVAR!!

Every year at the New River Gorge hundreds of climbers gather to raise money, drink beer, win awesome prizes, watch fuzzy men fight in the air... and of course, climb!