March 29-31 Moab, UT

Our summer started in southern Utah. Idaho wouldn't let go of the snow and wind, so we headed south and took advantage of the sun down there. However, we did have some wind and quick snowflakes, but it was much better than the snow storm they had in Rexburg while we were in Moab. We had a lot of fun with Dean and Heather Lords, Justin and Beth Avenius, Emily Stedman, and Chad Alldredge. Sitting around the camp fire was just as fun as the actual climbing.

On Monday we tested out our weak ability to climb cracks on beautiful red sand stone. Then on Tuesday we did some bouldering. I highly recommend Moab. The area is wonderful. Just the drive down there was amazing with all the different and wierd rock formations.

Jennilyn approaching the off-width seciton of the climb.

Ben stemming his way to the splits.

Moab daycare.

Jennilyn laying it back up a sweet crack.

Two years since "Naked Man"

It has officially been two years since our heroic rescue of Naked Man. We don't remember Naked Man's real name, so henceforth he will be called "Naked Man" or "NM."Here we have a picture of Ben, Jennilyn, and Naked Man after the great rescue. Notice NM is still wearing Ben's socks, which he never gave back.

So how did we rescue NM? Here's a shortened version of the epic story:

Ben and I went to Flaming Gorge for a vacation. We took the heavy aluminum canoe named "Flo Jo" with us. I was about 7 months pregnant, so we figured we'd take it easy and do some paddling, fishing, and hiking before tourist season started and the park got crowded.

On our last day there, ironically a cold, snowy morning, we took the canoe into the actually gorge for the first time (prior we had only done lakes). After paddling for a little bit, we heard some cries for help. We couldn't see anyone, not even any boaters. We worried someone had just gone underwater, and we paddled faster.

We heard the cries again, and were able to pinpoint them from coming off of a distant hill. We paddled over, and as we did Ben recognized that the man was naked, and instructed me not to look, which I willingly obeyed.

Once we got there the cries got violent. The old man was demanding that we bring him all of our warm clothes immediately, and to hurry up about it. Ben took our warmies and headed up, and I was worried he was going to get robbed and beaten. But he didn't. He came back with a chubby, hairy old man who was wearing my thermal top and my camping vest around his privates. I was grossed out.

We paddled him back and flagged down a Sheriff. Meanwhile, NM was in shock and shaking heavily, commenting on how he didn't think he was going to make it. He did. The Sheriffs were glad that we saved him, there weren't many people out that morning, and any boaters that were out weren't in a canoe probably wouldn't have heard him. NM's boat had capsized, he swam it to shore and stripped off his clothes trying to stay warm.

It has been two years since that crazy and random experience. I highly recommend flaming gorge to anyone.