Waking up early is routine from all the surfing I was doing before work back at home. Waking up here in Sinks Canyon, is a little bit different than waking up in San Diego. I begin my day by rising early, and catching a glimpse of the fiery, round, luminous sun peering between the eastern cleavage of Sinks canyon. I open the cab of the truck to reach into my toiletry bag, and grab my travel size apricot face scrub. I look forward to this routine: grabbing my face wash, heading down to the river (which is right next our tent), kneeling down and throwing the ice cold water upon my flesh. I proceed to mask my face with the sand feeling substance, lather, and wash. I then stand up feeling clean, ready to begin the day. My sleeping pants are comforting, keeping me warm while standing out in the ripe morning air. I put on my Prana Sweatshirt, which I can grab easily,conveniently adding one more comforting layer. Breakfast is my favorite meal, buying the most natural cereal I can find, my stomach yearns for a pick me up. I pour dates, almonds and whole grains into my camping bowl,add some blueberry yogurt, banana, and effuse a glass of rice milk or coffee. I like eating large portions, it is not that I crave so much the food that I eat, but climbers sometimes eat so little, that there metabolism doesn't have much to burn. I feel that it is important to maintain a healthy calorie intake, so that your body doesn't acquire strange eating habits. After we all finish our breakfasts, our rest day commences. We had heard rumors of an awesome, natural water slide at the top of sinks canyon. Miah (or Jerimiah) from SLC gave us the beta on how to get there.
"Right before the bridge park at the lot on the left, the trail will lead about 3 miles up to a series of waterfalls, hit the second one. Splash some water on the right side, where the shoot is, and friken' go dude!" Jerimiah exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Alright. We'll check it out." We agreed.
The hike turned out only to be about a mile and a half. Along the way we stopped at some Eddies and tried to bait some fish with our lure. Spencer managed to catch two small trout, one didn't make it, the other one did; we were sad for the one who didn't live.
Spencer McCroskey is a good guy. He's medium sized in height, but stands strong like a bull. His brown shaggy hair is childish, and at 26 you can't get much more playful. There's something sincerely kind about Spencer, it's sort of unexplainable. Maybe, it is his stories about smuggling climbers across the border into Mexico, an onerous action. Or his tales about in- school detention; where Spence and his buddy got their other mate drunk, coaxing him to jump out the third story window to escape detention. Little did they know, under the bush he jumped into, was a retaining wall that broke the kids femur. Or maybe it's because he's got a brother named Scotty, which he let's me know from the top of a route he completes, "Hey Scotty, you know I got a brother named Scotty" He yells from the top.
"Oh yeah, Really?" I reply.
"Yeah! so you my brotha'." I've never had a brotha' so it felt pretty cool.
Continuing on the hike we finally reached the slide. About 30 feet in length, the water polished granite acutely angles down and drops into a deep pool of water. Of course, I was the first one to test it out. Sitting at the top of the slide, I reminisced of Wild Rivers or the local San Diego Water park with my friends, cross your arms and just go. Chris counted me down, " Five, Four, Three, Two, One!" I didn't hesitate a bit. Throwing my arms out, I plunged into the unknown, taking no hesitations, just going. Maybe, that unique ride into the water was a materialization of my current experiences; making an ambivalent decision and having a refreshing outcome. Everyone had their turn after myself, and we couldn't get enough. Soon others started to come up and we jovially watched them throw themselves down the water slide. One zany character would always slip and fall, sliding down the areas that looked quite scary and dangerous.
I sat in the sun, in a natural recliner, soaking in the relaxation that encircled me. "You gonna eat?" Chris and the crew exclaimed behind me.
"Sure." I didn't know they were eating behind me, but as Chris said that, my stomach was just beginning to growl. Carlos and I had bought Hummus and Avocados the night before, along with Organic Garlic Bread. We all shared what was there and I had what I could, without being greedy.
The hike really took it out of us, and the heat was starting to come down, making us weary. We began to hike down and took pictures of the beautiful sites that we heretofore visited. Spencer and I trailed behind Chris and Carlos as we made our way down to the car.
The gate to the lakes above the waterfall (which all seems so interesting now because I visualize the pattern in which naturalness is defined. Looking down from space, I imagine the beauty of geography. Natures organic rhythm that percolates all over the lands of the earth, in other respects the synchronicity of nature) opened at four o'clock. We followed a pilot car which lead us up a windy dirt road (that was being paved) up to a beautiful body of water. Chris pulled the end of his truck up to the river and we opened up shop. I sat in the front seat typing the beginnings of an Asana climbing article. The rest and the beauty of our day was a fount of inspiration for me write. No fish were biting so we moved on to another part of the lake. I sat in the car with Carlos for a little bit while Spencer and Chris fished below at a pond. I was absorbed by the Nas interview that played on XM radio, which gave insight into the world of Hip Hop music. We all congregated at the car once more and sat a top an cyclonic drain, relaxing on it's sides. I dipped my feet in the water, thought about whom I love, and sang to the others.
"When the lights go down, in the city" "I want to be theeeerrrree in your city." Letting out a howling "woah", I think the others may have felt me pleas of love and hope, and although my actions may have seemed like a story from a book, I feel like that is what makes life beautiful. Life is a book, write it.
The sun was starting to fade, and the days heat turned into nights environment. We reached camp just before twilight permitting just enough time to prepare an evening meal. Everyone was tired, and faded from the days hike and excitement. Just like in San Diego I wanted to hit the hay early to gain rest and strength for the next day of climbing. Tomorrow was dawn patrol, dawn patrol is where we get up early and seize best temperatures of the day. I look forward to waking up early and getting my heart racing, I can't think of a better morning activity. Commencing the day out with one of the things I love the most, Rock Climbing.
As I laid my head upon my pillow, I stared up into space and thought about my life. How things were going to turn out, and what I could do to make the best decisions. As my eyes closed and my mind drifted off into sleep, I would receive an email that would help me settle my chagrin. Making changes is part of maturing, some changes work and some do not, that is just a part of growing up. The process of life is intriguing enough, and the anticipation to see what the future holds in my fruitful age is exciting. Thanks for the advice.
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