Rock Climbing and Rappelling Part II

Craig getting me all set up

Looking over the edge

I listened intensely to all of Craig's instructions and tips.  I trusted Craig's knowledge.  I trusted Craig's equipment.  I trusted Randy at the bottom of the rock in case I fell.  I did everything Craig told me.  I walked to the edge of the rock and placed my toes on the edge.  With heels hanging over the rock, all I had to do was lean back, sit into the ropes and get my legs straightened out so that they were parallel to the ground.  I gave it my best shot, but BAILED OUT!  I simply could not get myself to lean back over a rock and sit parallel to the ground.


Randy quickly headed to the top of the rock.  He volunteered to rappel down so I had a visual example of how to get down the rock.  Randy was awesome.  He easily stepped of the edge, leaned back and stepped his way down the rock.  I was again motivated to rappel down the rock, so to the top of the rock I went again.  Craig geared me up again and Randy was my safety at the base of the rock.  I stepped to the edge and placed my toes in position.  My heels were hanging off the edge and I did my best to lean back and assume the position to go over the edge.  I pushed myself to get over the edge but again BAILED OUT.  My frustration level increased.

Finally over the edge

At this point, Craig showed incredible patience with me.  As a visual learner, I asked him if he could rearrange the ropes at the top of the rock by securing the rope on a tree that would give me a visual of a straight line.  I was hoping that a straight line visual would help me focus on my center of gravity, maintain my balance and boost my confidence to step over the edge.  I had no idea that it would take Craig close to 15 minutes to rearrange the ropes.  This extra time also delayed our group from arriving at Dornan's where the cold beers awaited us.  Based on Craig's effort and the patience of the group, I had to go over that edge.  With enthusiasm and encouragement from everyone, the third time was the charm and I went over the edge.

Still heading down

Steps away from solid ground

Rock Climbing and Rappelling Part I

Rappelling down under Craig's watchful eye .  Third attempt was the charm!

On Friday I found myself learning a few new skills and pushing myself past the point of athletic comfortableness!  Rashawn and I, along with Kevin and Tim Maisch, are scheduled to climb the Grand Teton on July 30 and 31.  This will be a two day climb/hike and will challenge all of us on many levels.  The summit of the Grand Teton is at 13,773 feet and will require us to use ropes and rock climb to reach our goal of the summit.  My friend Craig is an experienced mountain guy who knows all about rock climbing and rappelling.  When he heard that we were going to summit the Grand Teton, he graciously told me he would introduce me to the type of rock climbing I would face on my journey to the summit of the Grand.  Friday was my first introduction to "Craig's Rock Climbing School."

Hiking to the rocks.

Craig assembled a group of fellow enthusiast and beginners like myself.  We met in the Grand Teton National Park at the Cathedral Group trail head.  After a short hike to find the climbing rock, we settled in for some instruction from Craig.  Randy was the first climber and he looked like a pro as he scrambled up the rock.

Craig getting Randy hooked up

Randy starting up

Randy climbing up

I am not sure how I got drafted to climb after Randy, but it was now my turn to find my footing and climb the rock.  Both Craig and Randy offered many useful tips as I made my scramble up the rock.  I did draw a bit of blood on my thigh .... I guess that is good!

Trying to make it to the top

Getting closer to the top

So close

Inches away and oh so glad I am close

Thrill of victory and great feeling that feet are again on a flat surface

With my heart rate racing, I did make it to the top of the rock.  It felt great to have my feet on the solid surface of the top of the rock.  John was Craig's next student who at first was not that interested in the challenge of climbing up the side of a rock.  Not only is Craig a "master teacher and coach," but he travels with his life sidekick named Carol!  Carol was not interested in scaling the rock herself, but she was a wonderful cheerleader for the group.  I am not sure John would have attempted the rock without Carol's enthusiasm and encouragement.

Carol encouraging all of us to get up the rock!

John almost at top

John starting up

After John made it to the top, Eric took his turn and had some fun.

Eric enjoying the rock!  Hook'em Horns!

After making sure that all of us safely reached the top of the rock, Craig took his own turn.  I felt like I was watching the Jackson Hole version of Spider-Man in action!  Before anyone could even blink, Craig had reached the top.  I must also tell you that he choose to scale the rock by taking a completely different route than the beginners in the group.  Something I had never thought of before - a rock has many routes of travel to the top!  Now I know!  To quote Oprah, "what I know for sure" is that I am hoping that there is an easy and obvious route up the rock face of the Grand Teton.

The Master begins!

Jackson Hole's version of Spider-Man in action!

Spider-Man continues

After trips up the rock using different routes, I needed to learn and experience rappelling down the rock.  Craig did a wonderful job of explaining the proper technique of rappelling down the rock and had me convinced I could do it.  I intensely listened to and also believed I could do it.  On the top of the rock, Craig secured me into the harness and ropes while Randy assumed the back up safety position at the bottom of the rock.

Coal Creek Hike to Phillips Canyon

Thursday June 5th was an early start for me as I joined up with the hiking group for another wonderful outing lead by Craig.  The hike of the day was the Coal Creek hike to Phillips Canyon.  I am not really sure how many miles we covered, but we were moving up, over and down for close to 5 hours.  Unlike the weather on our other hiking days, this day was a cloudy day in the Jackson area with cool temperatures.

Cloudy morning view as we began our Coal Creek hike

The trail begins with the usual up hill climb and we even found ourselves crossing a log bridge spanning Coal Creek.  This hike has a well worn trail and travels through fir forest and luxuriant green slopes.

More view on the hike up

After a steady hike up on a clearly marked trail, the hike entered a boulder field.  Crossing a boulder field is always a challenge.  The boulder fields provide quite a different view than the trail we hiked up.  Both views are incredible but very different.  I followed Craig and Randy across the boulder field.  Both Craig and Randy were quick and sure footed.  I was not nearly as quick or sure footed but I did make it across the boulder field without blood shed or injury.  I view this as an accomplishment!

Craig (white shirt) and Randy (blue shirt) leading the way up and over the boulder field

Leader Craig looking my way to make sure I had not killed myself and providing encouragement to keep climbing

View from the top of the boulder field

I was very happy to reach the top of the boulder field.  The view from the top was beautiful.  The bad news was that I now needed to continue to follow my fearless leader (Craig) down the boulder field to reach flat land.  Going up a boulder field is not easy, but going down makes the up feel like a piece of cake.

Randy and Craig heading down the boulder field

After surviving the boulder field, the group made our way back to a well marked trail that lead to beautiful green meadows with wonderful views.  After the strenuous reality of crossing the boulder field, the walk across the meadow was an easy and pleasant stroll.

Eric taking in the view

After the boulder field.  An easy walk across the meadow.  Craig and Joyce in front talking flowers.

Both Craig and Joyce are very knowledgeable in the flowers of the area.  Now that the weather is warmer and the snow at the higher altitudes is melting, the flowers are beginning to come out.  On all of our hikes, Craig is quick to point out the various types of flowers.  Joyce joined the group on this hike and I soon learned she was another flower expert in the group.  She and Craig consistently pointed out and named a variety of the flowers we saw on the hike.  They did not always agree on certain names of flowers and this later provided a bit of humor on the trail.

Eric crossing the meadow.

After crossing the meadow and following the trail downhill, more than two hours had passed and it was time for a rest and some lunch.  The best part of our hiking lunch breaks is definitely the views that surround my lunch table on every hike.  I love eating in all the outdoor hot spots in Sarasota, but I must admit that my views from those tables can not compare to the views I have from my hiking lunch tables!

Our lunch table on our Coal Creek to Phillips Canyon hike.

View from our lunch table

Another view from our lunch table

After lunch, we headed on to Phillips Canyon.  The majority of the end of the hike was downhill through the canyon.  For the most part it was an easy walk with many opportunities for Craig and Joyce to discuss and or disagree on the flowers we came across.  At one point on the trail, Craig ran across another hiking group heading in the opposited direction of our group.  He of course knew one of the hikers.  Craig and Joyce also noticed that a hiker in that group had a book with him detailing the flowers of the area.  At this point and in an effort to see who was correct about the name of a certain flower, Craig and Joyce eagerly borrowed the flower book to find the answer.

Heading out after lunch

Craig, Randy and John displaying some fancy foot work across the creek

Hiking through the Aspens

Craig and Joyce borrowing a flower book from a hiker we ran across so they can figure out who was right about the name of a particular flower.  Randy looks on with amusement.

Celebrating the 4th of July in Idaho!

I hope that everyone had a fun and exciting 4th of July!  Heather and I slept in and took a few hours to decide how we wanted to spend our July 4th.  After much discussion, we decided to drive over the Teton Pass and spend the day in "small town America."  Victor Idaho was our first stop.  It was the lunch time when we arrived in Victor.  If you are in Victor and it is lunch time, there is only one place you can eat and that place is "Grumpy's Goat Shack".

The Grumpy Goat's sense of humor.  Notice the sign says
 "Sorry we're Open"

Grumpy's Goat Shack is famous for the hot dogs they serve and the goat that lives out back.  It is a place with a sarcastic sense of humor that began with the sign in the parking lot.  Heather and I both ordered the hot dogs, but the live goat was hiding in the barn to avoid the sun.

The staff at the Grumpy Goat was especially lively as they celebrated the 4th of July.  I do not believe that I have ever ordered a hot dog before from a lady wearing a tiara.  I can now say that I have in fact ordered a very tasty hot dog from a lady wearing a tiara in Victor Idaho!

Just after ordering my hot dog from a waitress wearing a tiara

Grumpy's Goat Shack

After a leisurely and delicious lunch, Heather and I enjoyed Main Street Victor.  As we walked Main Street, we found an outdoor craft fair and strolled among the booths.  Heather found some great yard art for her garden back home in Salt Lake City.

Heather browsing the crafts fair in Victor

Wanted to try one of these but resisted the temptation

It was not easy to resist the Frozen Chocolate Dipped Cheesecake but both Heather and I had to push ourselves by this tasty booth because we had bigger plans for our dessert that day.  So after our time in Victor, we continued down the road to Driggs Idaho.  I must admit that Driggs is a bit bigger than Victor and even has one stop light on the main avenue through town.  Our sole reason for continuing our journey into Driggs was to partake in and introduce Heather to the absolutely fabulous huckleberry shake.  It is a shake that simply can not be described but must be enjoyed!  So if you are ever in Driggs Idaho, make sure you stop by the Corner Drug Store and order up a huckleberry shake!

Heather heading into the Corner Drug Store in Driggs Idaho for a huckleberry shake

Heather at the fountain counter

Heather is visiting Jackson Hole

My friend Heather Shepherd arrived in Jackson last Saturday night.  Heather and I became friends while working together in San Diego at La Jolla Country Day.  She now lives in Salt Lake City where she is the principal at a Charter K - 8 school.  It has been great catching up with Heather and we have enjoyed the Jackson Hole valley playground.

Heather as we prepare to head out on our first ride of her Jackson Hole stay.

Since Heather's arrival, we have headed out on our bikes each day.  On our first ride (Sunday), we left the house and pedaled north to Dornan's and Moose Junction.  As usual, it was a beautiful day and Heather and I had a great time.  

After we enjoyed a good lunch at Dornan's, we headed back to our bikes and saw a site that one probably can only see in Jackson Hole.  As we approached our bikes, we had to pass two horses that we patiently waiting for their riders to also finish their lunch.

Found these guys on our way back to our bikes   

Monday found Heather and I back on our bikes, but this time we headed south into town.  Friends of mine from my Dallas/Greenhill days were in Jackson Hole and Heather and I were scheduled to meet them from lunch.  The weather and outdoor environment of Jackson Hole draws you to physical activity.  So instead of driving to town, we decided to bike the 9 miles to town.

I began my teaching/coaching life at the Greenhill School in Dallas in 1986.  Back in those days, I was teaching PE and coaching 6 different teams and making an astounding 17,000.00.  Needless to say, I needed a few extra jobs to help pay the bills.  During those first few years of teaching and coaching, I supplemented my income by selling concessions at football games, selling cookies at the Galleria and babysitting/housesitting for Greenhill families.  The housesitting jobs were always my favorite.  During those years, I was a regular housesitter for the Small family.  What great times we had.  By teaching, coaching and housesitting Justin, Macey and Meredith Small, a wonderful bond was created.  My time at Greenhill and in Dallas came to an end in 1992 but that does not mean that those relationships ended.

Dr. and Mrs. Small now have a summer home here in Jackson and Meredith and Macey (with her husband and daughter) are here visiting.  It was wonderful meeting for lunch and catching up on things.  They were fabulous then and they are fabulous now.  We had a great afternoon together.

From left to right around the table - the Small Family - Cheri, Neal, Steve (Macey's husband) Meredith, Macey