returnings: chimney

I had originally come to Chimney Rock when I was sixteen as part of the Spokane Mountaineers.  I ended up becoming somewhat addicted to climbing, doing it every day after school and every weekend, most spare moments.  I did a lot of climbing with Gabe Rogel, and returned with him to North Idaho to climb Chimney a couple of days ago:

We both found it kind of unfathomable that it has been fifteen years since we first came to this place.  I think in a lot of ways, despite its inherent dangers, climbing–and the camaraderie–saved my life in those years.  Gabe has gone on to pursue the craft professionally and incorporated amazing photography and climbing–as well as many other outdoor activities–as a way of life.  (www.rogelphoto.com)  This particular climb was, for me, the first and probably only of the year… and for Gabe, almost the same.  So we did not push the limits too much…

… enjoying what we’d already done, easily, years ago.  It’s funny, getting older, and realizing that the world can hurt you, and that you must be careful, considerate of your own limits and abilities.

at the end of our kind of amazing one day adventure, I found I was taking something wholly different away from the experience… in comparison to what I used to get out of climbing:

listen to yourself, enjoy weakness or strength in the moments they occur, but listen to them… and listen to those you’re with.

with gratitude…