If there is even anyone still paying attention to this site, you're probably wondering what happened to the whole concept of "updates" or "new information". Well, pretty much as soon as the last spring semester at UMD finished, I packed my bags and left town for a job. My summer was spent saving cash for a long climbing trip out west. When September rolled around, I finally figured the nest egg was big enough for me to start my travels. So I did...

I was stoked to spend the next few month's climbing and hopefully getting strong. After saying goodbye to my parents back home, I stopped at the first gas station, toped off the tank, bought a case of Natty Ice (ringing in at a tasty 5.9%), and was on my way. With just a few stops at some local crags in Wisconsin for some bouldering and a brew, it was pretty much straight on into the sunset. I stopped in the Tetons, Vedauwoo, Horsetooth, then Priest Draw, and so on. The whole time away was filled with amazing rock, great people, and in our fine Duluth tradition, lots of alcohol.

Well as it sometimes happens, and often to me, the money ran out a little quicker than expected. My van needed repairs. For a while I justified staying out using a classic Dave Pagel quote: "If your gonna take a trip you can't afford, you might as well use money you don't have." So on that note, the credit card bills

stacked up. Eventually, I decided to end the trip while my spirits where still high. Now I'm in Duluth once again, motivated once again, and it's already winter... once again. It's nice to be back.