last week on our way home from climbing in NH Isa asked me what I was doing on my vacation. My answer was .. well I would like to go to Seneca but you have to work:( Isa cheerfully answered that she might be able to swing a few days off:). somehow she was able to talk her boss into accepting that taking thursday, friday and Monday off was actually only one extra day off? (republican math) The boss bought it and the wheels were spinning:) The plan was to pick Isa up at work early 2pmish on Wed. I did the big rush to get the van cleaned out, the bed installed, curtains fixed, winter tires changed to summer,the kitchen put together and all the climbing gear in order. Wed morning dawns and it is seriously Cold with fresh snow.By the time I have tied up all my loose ends and isa is done with work it is 3:00pm on wednesday and we are officialy on the road South:) vacation time! A beautifull sunset and lots of crazy traffic for a country boy. I drive untill midnight and we crash in a rest area just south of Harrisburg PA. wake to a cold crisp sunrise we drive awhile to let it warm up a bit before our breakfast stop on I81 still in PA It is cold but the apple blossems and spring flowers are here! they even have green grass! Isa fiddles and I break out my new Washburn 3/4 travel dread to go with our hot coco and oatmeal. finally at noon thirty we roll into Seneca WV. 684 miles on the trip meter from the cabin to Yokums. It is sunny and in the low 50's. not ideal but a heck of a lot better than yesterday mornings snow! a quick lunch of cherry jam sammiches and apples and we are geared up and hikeing the Seneca Stair master. I lead the first tricky crux of Green Wall only to be told that I have been off rote all these years;). Oh well. Isa scampers up the nice long 2nd pitch to the summit of South peak and brings me up What a beautifull valley! What a beautifull summit! there are new glue is at the top of green wall/Pleasant O's that lead to funky rings for a wild free hanging rap over the Pleasant O's roof climber in Pleasant O's Back in the parking lot it is aparent that we are in fact in West By God Virginia A beautifull sunset again! We are lucky to be early season and there is still pleanty of free deadfall firewood in the campground. Lots of git picking and fiddeling to go with our yummy burritos we stay up late git picking and fiddleing arround the fire. there are headlamps still up on the cliff @ 11:00pm when we crash Thusday evening. We pleasantly sleep in friday morning. Lots of hand made music to go with breakfast. A casual stroll up to Extacy and a fun sunny warm romp up one of the best 5.7's anywheres:) After a siesta in the sun we play rock paper scisors . Isa loses and braves the stairmaster to retrieve our packs! a nice snack and we are back on the rock. I lead the short 1st pitch (right variation)of Tomato. Isa cranks the steep 2nd pitch I follow and climb through the Gunsite cluster to the top the same crazy free hanging rap as yesterday we see lots of hearts Isa serenades me again while I cook dinner Friday night there are headlamps up on the cliff again all evening and still there when we crash @ 11pm we later find out that a party of 3 started Old Mans rt @ 1:00pm got lost, had to cut up their rope for anchors and finally made it down safely @ 3:00am! Aparently they read this sign! We slept in decadantly again.. french toast with jam, honey and coffe that our neighbors gave us! really digging this vacation mode! lots of spring flowers and hearts We are starting to feel a bit sore. this rock climbing stuff is so different from Ice climbing! My hands are beat up! sharp rock.
We head for the stair master again at the crack of noon :) Isa scampers up the 1st pitch of West Pole I get totally spanked by the roof. I totally miss the key left foot and slink back to the belay with my tail between my legs feeling shame.. Isa naturally hikes it... I redeem myself by embraceing the Wyde and leading the direct finish:) nice belay on top of a total heap:) Isa arrives at the heap belay We met a totaly cool street vendor selling home made bird houses, fiddles, guitars and mandolins. We had a great jam playing hillbilly gospel music. Bummed I did not get any photos as we were too busy playing music. Isa almost bough a mando but was short on funds.. My fingers and hands are trashed for guitar playing. lots more fiddleing by the campfire and yummy food. We were toying with the thought of driveing 45min over the mountain to catch a band at the purple Fiddle but ended up just hanging by the campfire sat night. Slept in again....so I guess I deserve it... Easter Sunday 2014. I miss my sister and the farm but this is also so special. My first real vacation since 2006. Back to the stairmaster and Tripple S Isa does annother lap I lead up through the notch to Windy corner Isa folllows Windy Corner we scramble the summit do we really have to drive north and go back to work?