The healing process has been a slow one for me, or seemingly slow. Shasta tells me that I have been healing quickly but when your the one healing it never seems fast enough. I had been to the doctor several times and the news never really got better although thankfully all the injuries cropping up were not life threatening. Still, hearing I had a torn supraspinatus and a ball of muscle pressing on the nerves in my neck on top of a bit of a compressed vertebrae was beginning to get demoralizing. My vocal cord is still paralyzed and my thyroid just does what it wants.

The time for moping around has however past and dwelling on injures doesn't make them go away! So a trip to Washington for my brothers wedding is my own specific style of Rehab. We first started with a whitewater rafting trip down the White Salmon River. Our guide was funny and went in the water more then anyone else. Also she said things like "Before the dam the fish used to pollute the river with their dead bodies".

My arm felt surprisingly good and I was excited for what the next few days would bring. We had arranged a climbing trip to Leavenworth. I was nervous as I still had pain in my neck, back, and shoulder and I wasn't sure if I could even hold myself up. Exciting!

Our friend decided at Castle Rock as it had some easier routes and I didn't think that climbing on a 5.10 would be really a good idea! And it was decided that Midway Direct an old Beckey Route from 1948 would be the test. We didn't anticipate it being 100 degrees and in the sun.

Ryan C. tied up and lead the first pitch as his brother chatted happily. We were all glad to be out. He quickly got to the first pitch and I went next nervously trying to place my feet seemingly above my head so that I wouldn't have to use my arms just my legs but I had a backpack on with my camera so I couldn't lean against the wall behind and ended up doing some pullups through that section. Hurt a bit but not to much, encouraging information. Halfway up I remembered how to climb and it begin to feel good, moving slowly and carefully. My confidence grew quickly and I could feel what I have been missing this last month and a half. Tyler followed after as Ryan and I baked away in the sun.

Tyler C. following the first pitch of Midway.


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The river teased us as we didn't bring near enough water. We expected to just do the first pitch and then toprope some others as I didn't know what I was ready for but we were all excited to do the full route so we just continued on without even discussing it.


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The two happy Cronk brothers.

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We continued on and finished the upper pitches quickly before our skin turned to leather under the mean red goddess. The river all the while teased our thirst buds.


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Shasta was the last to come up and she brought a surprise with her.

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Can anyone spot what shouldn't be?

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We were all smiles!

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After the climb we were all happy for another great day. Although the sun had burned the climb right out of us and the river was winning. What were we to do other then jump in! So we went down to the car ran across the road and jumped in the Wanatchee.

Overall my injures didn't hurt to bad. A few times I noticed it more then others but mostly I just noticed how weak I was. My wrists didn't seem to even want to hold together! I am glad to be back. It was an easy route but sometimes the biggest battles are fought on easy ground.

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes!

Shasta took lots of great photos as well as many others from our trip to Washington (which is only half over) and can be seen here! (Will be up soon):
http://shasterblaster.smugmug.com/United-States/Washington/Leavenworth-August-2010/

Trip link photo: