We had big plans to meet up with our friends Nadia and Cody in Seattle, Washington but didn't want to drive all the way through. We decided to stop in Idaho along the way at a climbing area called City of Rocks. We drove through the plains and valleys of Idaho, before coming to this place in the middle of nowhere with a literal "city" of rocks jutting out from the ground. It is a place for mostly trad climbing, which means Brady placed his own gear for protection to the wall (while I belayed from below!).
Brady climbing Wheat Thin, 5.8 Trad
Our first night in Idaho, we decided to camp in the Sawtooth National Forest before heading to City of Rocks. We drove for about 30 miles deep into wilderness. We saw rabbits bouncing all over the road (Jazz wanted to leap out the window so bad!!) as well as some whitetail deer (Bambi was with them, so cute!) We came to the campground that was marked on our map, an old elk hunting camp, halfway through the patch of wilderness to find a few broken down caravans, aka RV trailers, and a group of people camped out, who looked like they had been there for a while, and had no plans to leave. It became dark quick, and as we tried to set up camp we could hear this group (who we then decided were squatters, living in the National Forest) shooting off guns at a herd of coyotes and a bunch of dogs barking and kids screaming. It was more than unsettling... This was the first night Brady decided to move the shot gun by the bed, instead of tucked deep inside the closet...
Over the next couple of days, once we were out of the forest we noticed a forest fire growing from where we came from. It was beautiful to see from far away, especially at night. We heard they were evacuating the campgrounds, including the one we stayed in that night with the squatters.
A heel off our loaf of bread, topped with peanut butter, honey, and a slice of blueberry cake... That boy has a sweet tooth!! And possibly a tape worm...
The "Breadloaves" wall at City of Rocks
Parking Lot Rock
The boys, gearing up to climb "Crack of Doom"
More water pleazzzzzze!
Crack of Doom, 5.11C. More Like "Crimps of Doom"! Brady's hardest trad lead yet.
Cheezin!
Top of Morning Glory Spire! After climbing "Crack of Doooooooom"
Belay Buddy!
Don't jump Jazzy!
"Terror in Tiny Town" 5.11B on-sight (He climbed it first go without falling!)
Another view of the fire in the Sawtooth National Forest
Go fetch that water boy!
Titty Rock... Brady liked this one and needed a picture haha!
Our celebratory dinner date in Twin Falls, Idaho. Brady ordered the biggest thing on the menu, and his eyes were bigger than his stomach! Which I didn't think was possible...
Mmmmm!
This is the Twin Falls gorge. As we were leaving town, we saw three base jumpers leap off the bridge with parachutes down to the bottom of the canyon. I got a great video, but the blog won't let me use it.
Goodbye Idaho! Next stop, Mt. Rainier National Park!
