Kt's Birthday

For Kt's birthday we decided to go check out Ouray Ice Park in Colorado. We drove out with our friend Brent and stayed at a old western saloon/hotel. We signed in, paid our money and the owner left leaving us the small hotel to ourselves. Wandering the halls it felt like something out of the Shining. The next morning, the three of us set out to the School Room area in Ouray. We had the whole park to ourselves. We climbed the whole area about 10 ice climbs. Each climb were about 30 meters. Which means Kt and I climbed over 1,000 ft of ice in one day! We were having so much fun that we forgot to each lunch. Brent claimed that we "lived off photosynthesis."

The second part of the trip we drove back to southern Utah and met up with the one and only Brett Francis and company at Leprechaun Canyon. We ran two forks of the canyon. Kt was teaching me the ropes - this being my first technical canyon. The Left fork was straight forward. The middle fork had a R rating. Right at the beginning we rappelled off a chockstone wedged between the canyon. Awesome experience. It was a Mae West slot meaning it was tight. Honestly, felt like being in a cave the whole time.

Ice climbing and Canyoneering all in the same trip. Doesn't get much better than that.

The ice was starting to brake away.

Kt on the best line we climbed all day.

Kt knocked down a portion of the pillar.

Josh getting seconds.

Josh taking the high road.

Kt on rappel.

One month after we were engaged.

Provo Peak

Provo Peak was a great accomplishment for us.  We took the West Ridge. We finally were hitting our stride with mountaineering and started to have the right gear for the tasks at hand. We met the club late into the night and did not have much time to chat. We set up at base camp and only had a few hours of sleep before we took off. We had our snow shoes on the whole way. Great weather and a great outing with good friends.  Provo Peak's elevation is 11,068 ft.

Josh and Kt on there way to the summit.

Massive cornices along the way.

On the summit of Provo Peak.