Written by: Grace and Eleanor
Hello! This is Grace and Eleanor writing to you all from a rainy and cold community park in a town we have forgotten the name of, somewhere in Utah. The past few days of rain have prevented us from climbing the delicate sandstone here in Indian Creek, but we are pleasantly passing the day learning about the incredible history of this place we’re in: The Bear’s Ears National Monument, and eating hot fries from the local 7/11.
We spent ten beautiful days in and around Rifle Canyon. The fourteen of us (plus a rotation of new instructors, hello Syd and Laurel!) enjoyed the luxuries of base camping after our backpacking through the Sawatch, cheffing up yummy meals and enjoying some short-lived slack-lining. We were about a twenty minute drive from the canyon where we would head most mornings to climb. Rock students began progressions in lead climbing and belaying, anchor building and cleaning, and rappelling, which Trek students joined in on in preparation for their canyons expedition.
But we didn’t just climb—two days were spent on trail work with roaring fork outdoor volunteers at Rifle’s project wall. Half of us built a retaining wall to help prevent erosion, while the rest arranged rocks snugly in a line to separate belayers from the canyon’s road. Trek students (joined by two Rock students on the first of two days) volunteered their time at the Highwater Farm, picking cherry tomatoes and tomatillos, shucking and planting garlic while learning the differences between hard and soft neck varieties, and composting the tomato plants we had picked the day before. Art even branched out from befriending dogs at the crag to farm director Sarah’s dog, Mesa.
With fresh veggies in our systems and sore fingers from the limestone, we embarked on one of the most scenic drives I’ve ever been on. The high desert of Utah is breathtaking and I feel grateful and full of wonder entering this next chapter of life here. Here’s to big cracks and little cracks and finding our flow out here in Indian Creek.
