Oh our Silas and his highly involved and industrious ideas. Today, it’s making pancakes out of acorns. According to Silas, first you collect a bunch of acorns that have fallen to the ground, then you sort out the cracked and worm-holed ones so you’re left with only the good ones, then you roast them over the fire until they crack, then you peel the shells off so you’re left with the inner white part, then you grind the white part into flour, and then finally you mix up some pancake batter with the flour and cook up a pancake. I tell him I will look back on this and remember it always, but only one of two ways:
Remember that time you wanted to make pancakes out of acorns?
or,
Wow! Those were really good pancakes!
He rolled his eyes at me and continued with his sorting.
A falling star, a full moon, interesting cloud formations under the full moon, the distant sound of rockfall, and wine. I argued with Paul about the wine. Humans were involved in that, just like this fire we’re enjoying! He wouldn’t have it. “Mother Nature provided the conditions in which to grow the grapes…” Fine.
I would have also added to this list sunshine, which kept us nice and warm while showering buck naked in the woods today. But I can’t because during my shower, the sun dipped behind a HUGE tree and stayed there. For eternity.
Another gift: Half Dome and it’s gorgeous surroundings from Washburn Point
After working it out yesterday on TR, Paul sends the massive Spock was Here, v6. You can just make out his head at the top of the boulder if you look real hard
Two of my sisters w/ spouses, my brother and my mom all came for a visit last weekend! I’m very happy to report we resumed our annual costume party (with masks). Here we all are in a pre-party family photo.
Dr. Strange and Hawkeye from The Avengers. The kids costumes are getting more involved and harder to make as they get older! 😬 Gone are the simple days of the black cat.
Avengers with Grandma
The trick-or-treating entourage
Our furry visitors, javelinas
The uncles playing with Legos
Family hike up on Mt. Lemmon
And last but not least, the Halloween birthday girl
To celebrate our 17 year wedding anniversary: a ride on the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a cozy cabin, and a gorgeous hike in fall colors.
We climbed. We hiked. We climbed. We camped. We climbed. We climbed some more. And mama sent! (Which never happens in Yosemite). Photo log below. Video coming soon.
Drug Dome boulders
First send of the trip: Warm Up Arete, v2
Slopers and Dopers, v4. Last summer had to leave this one unfinished. This summer: crushed it.
Our campsite at Tuolumne Meadows Campground
A site right next to the river! Score again!
A heinous uphill trudge on a nonexistent trail in the late afternoon while in a Tuolumne heatwave results in no choice but a send of the classic Booze Bottle, v6. …”cause we are NOT hiking all the way back up here again Dad.”
The “descent”
Rest day hunt for the best swimming hole ever
The ultra classic and ultra hard Conquistadors, v8. Paul will need to come back for this one.
Silas working out Warm Up Roof, v3
My goal for the trip: Ian’s Prow, v6! Done!
Same day headed over to the Medlicott boulders. And Ivan ticks off a rad Unnnamed v1 with a dyno!
Finishing this awesome sendage day off with a refreshing dip in Tenaya Lake. The boys found playmates.
While Paul and I enjoyed adult beverages in the evening sun. Long summer days are the best!
A “rest day” hike up to Cathedral Lakes
About 10 miles hiked this day in total. Worth it.
Another that Paul will need to come back for: Detached, v8. These Yosemite boulders are HARD!
Another to come back for: Unnamed, v6. Funny how there’s so many excellent boulder problems in Tuolumne without names.
A venture down into The Valley. Camped one night here next to “the loud boys” (two smaller boys next to us that must not ever sleep and clearly still need trained in volume adjustment)
Blue dragonfly by the Merced River
Ivan climbs his first v2, an unnamed problem at the Curry boulders
This trip was put together piecemeal, with both Paul and I checking campsite availability nearly every day leading up to the trip. An open night at Bridalveil Campground came up so we grabbed it, even though it’s not near any climbing. Soooo worth it. The family deemed this campsite our favorite of the trip. And Taft Point was just a short drive and hike away.
Approaching Taft Point
Taft Point
Exposed!
Best campsite of the trip. Totally chill.
The Roof, v4. Another great send.
The Giving Tree, v9. Paul wanted soooo bad to repeat this, because it’s THAT good. Dang that first move though!
