1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1 large coffee scooper of toasted flax seeds
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried oregano
5 tbsp melted unsalted buttah
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 egg
1 cup buttahmilk + 2tbsp almond milk
2 cups chopped spinach
1 1/4 cup cheddah cheese
1. Preheat oven to 350degrees Fahrenheit, line muffin sheet with 12 cupcake cups
2. In a large bowl mix together whole wheat flour, ground flax seeds, flax seeds, salt, oregano, baking soda, baking powder and set aside
3. In a large bowl mix together butter, olive oil, egg, sugar, buttermilk almond milk, spinach, and cheeese
4. Fold in 1/2 flour mixture into cheese spinach mixture, repeat.
5. Fill in cupcake cups, sprinkle cheddar on top of each filled muffin cup TT, bake for 30 or so minutes till done! (since there isn't a lot of butter or oil, it still might be a good idea to Pam your cupcake cups so the muffins don't totally stick to the paper!)
Mt. Diablo: From the summit on a clear day, it is possible to view the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and the southernmost mountain of the volcanic Cascade Range, Mount Lassen more than 180 miles (290 km) away. Owing to the earth's curvature it is not possible to see the larger Mount Shasta, although Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, about 125 miles (201 km) to the east, can be viewed with a telescope when the atmosphere is exceptionally clear. Historic claims that the mountain's viewshed is the largest in the world—or second largest after Mount Kilimanjaro—are unfounded. It is however, one of the largest viewsheds in the Western United States. -- Wikipedia!
Yesterday Stephen and I woke up early(for a sunday) and headed southeast toMt. Diablo. Our goal: to lead climb The Amaing Face on the lower tier of Boy Scout Rocks. It is eleven bolts, and 91 feet tall! The only bummer about the bay area is that the weather is usually how it is today, so when the weather is gorgeous everyone likes to get out and go hiking, climbing, and biking. The park was pretty crowded, especially with a group of inner city kids. It makes my heart happy to see kids from inner City and from inner Oakland getting out and seeing and experiencing nature! But, it also bugs me that they are so loud outside!!
Because the lower tier is mostly harder climbs, there were only a handful of us experienced climbers, and we were low enough that we couldn't hear any of the kids screaming, it was really nice and beautiful. When I saw how high the climb was, my nerves got to me and threw a bit of a temper and demanded that Stephen set up an anchor at the top and throw over the rope so I could top rope it first, I was afraid to lead the route without having climbed it first. While Stephen went around, I sat there and listened and it was so weird, you could hear a somewhat loud buzz! I couldn't tell where it was coming from until I looked up and noticed that all the flowers on the trees were in bloom and all the buzzing was from BEES! The bees were buzzing around the tops of the trees doing all their bee business! A little scary right?
I climbed the route first, and I am so happy I didn't start out leading! That route was no 5.9! I later found out that due to softness of the stone, and people climbing too soon after rain the route had been altered to be a 5.10a+. It was a really fun route, and I would definitely like to return to the route and tackle it as a lead route! I could definitely tell that since last summer when Stephen and I climbed in Montana that I have overcome a lot of my outdoor climbing fears. I was totally confident in Stephens anchor setting, I didn't freak out over falling, I never gave up, I was more confident with my holds, and using what seems like nothing as really good foot holds! So, even though we both only climbed up the route once, I was really happy with the trip!
I have to give it to Stephen though, because once again he was able to handle one of my bitchtastic climbing episodes. I think I throw these tempers because I don't know what to expect, and the fear I have of not knowing what the route is going to be like scares me. So instead of taking it out on the walls and rocks, I take it out on Stephen! Rawr! But, I am working on it!!
Also note, Stephen is super proud of the fact that he has completed his first "climbing rack"!
The weather in the Bay Area has been so beautiful lately! The days have been averaging around 72 and the nights are around 50, not to shabby if I do say so myself! It has definitely been skirts, and light sweater weather; trust me I have been taking full advantage of this weather! Although today the weather is a little less than beautiful, very humid and on the cooler side. Basically the entire day so far has been suspended mist, very misleading on the actual temperature! So here I am at Peet's Coffee + Tea having myself a cup of Green Sencha!
This July Stephen and I are heading to Big Sky Country! That's right, we are heading out to Montana. His Mom and her husband just finished building a beautiful home in the Southwestern part of the state. Yes that is a picture of the Clark Fork River which is basically their backyard! Jealous? If not, then... you're basically lame.
Over 10 days we will be visiting, fly fishing, regular fishing, climbing, camping, back country hiking, drinking and playing pool in the local bar. But what I am most excited about is we will be taking a four day backpacking trip through Glacier National Park. This year May, marks Glacier's 100th Birthday as a National Park. I am pretty excited that we get to go!
This is Lake McDonald. It is pretty much the first thing you see at the western entrance to the park. It has and elevation of 3153ft above sea level, is 10 miles long and at it's deepest point is 427 feet deep. The surrounding mountain walls range around 2000 feet. From this picture you might think that this looks like any other lake in any random forest, you are wrong. It is one of the most beautiful places you could ever see.
Hopefully we will be able to re climb the Kila Crags and I won't be scared shit-less of rattlesnakes! I would post a picture but all of the pictures I took last summer are not on my computer and all the Google Images sucked. So I will later post a story specifically
about that little adventure. I threw a temper tantrum, it was a little bit embarrassing.
So we are going on this excussion in fifteen weeks and neither one of us is ready for a four day backpacking trip at that altitude. So, our goal: loose 10-15 pounds by our flight. Go on 12 hikes, and visit Yosemite all before taking off to one of my favorite places in the world!
This month marks my 1 year anniversary of climbing!!
Well... not exactly. But it marks my 1 year of climbing with Stephen and one year of climbing consistently. Stephen likes to buy fun outdoorsy stuff, and I like to play with fun outdoorsy stuff. So, to maximize both our likes Stephen has set up this reward system for climbing. Basically it goes like this, achieve a huge milestone in climbing-- and you get new gear!!
My milestone: Flash a 5.11a
I have worked hard on my technique and I may not have progressed as quickly as some people do, but I would consider myself a strong climber. So when I finally was able to flash my first 5.11a that was a huge accomplishment.
So what was the new gear?? New climbing shoes!!
The process of finding shoes has not been an easy one. We are at the end of March, and I reached my goal in January!!
This is why:
1. I wear the most common women's shoe size. Size 7.5
2. I have shallow heels-- You wouldn't believe how troublesome this is for a climber
3. I have a hard time telling if a shoe fits
4. Stephen made me try on EVERY brand of shoe and in nearly EVERY model
Here were my wants in a shoe: Velcro Straps, and have purple or a color in the same range as purple.
After trying on shoes at REI SF, REI Berkeley, Lombardi, Iron Works, Mission Cliffs, Evolv Demo, and Marmot Mountain I still was shoeless!
I settled on the La Sportiva women's Katana. A grayish purple leather, with straps, slightly aggressive, and totally perfect! So we found them at a good price on Moosejaw they came and didn't fit! We sent them back for a small size, my heel doesn't even come close to touching the bottom of the heel! Sent them back.
So finally after two long months of looking I finally settled on a shoe!
I present to you my new babies, my 5.10 Anasazis!!
Sport Climbing- Ascending routes of extreme gymnastic difficulty protected by closely spaced bolts.
Belay- Safety technique in which a stationary climber provides protection, by means of ropes, anchors and braking devices, to an ascending partner.
Introduction
I have a fear of falling. That's right, falling. That is not exactly the best fear to have in an adventure sport.
Facts
-My climbing partner and I have a 100 pound weight difference.
-I must free climb 40 plus feet, while dragging 4 pounds of rope.
-In order to pass the Lead Climbing test you must take a 15-20 foot fall.
-When gym climbing, the ropes are wrapped around a drum at the top of the route to provide extra friction. Basically the belayer feels 1/3 of the climbers weight.
-When lead climbing the only friction is the quick draws and ATC. The belayer feels 100 percent of the weight of climber.
Story
My climbing partner is an amazing climber, for months now he has wanted to start free/lead/sport climbing. The catch to being a bad ass lead climber, you must be a strong/confident climber. I'm not very confident in my climbing and have a fear of falling, so lead climbing wasn't something I was too excited about. However, after a trip to Yosemite I was definitely convinced and excited to begin training for this feat.
We made a climbing New Year's Resolution: pass our lead climbing test by February 28th. January came and passed, no lead climbing class. February came... still no lead climbing class. I think you are picking up on how much I was not looking forward to this class. Still, a resolution is a resolution and in order to finish by our deadline we needed to take the class, like yesterday. So on Friday evening I decided to inquire about lead classes. After a short conversation, I walked away with an appointment for 8:30am Saturday the next morning. Excited about our private lead class, my climbing partner started a conversation with our instructor... just as I walk up he asks, "What is your weight difference." I said, "100 pounds." Before I could think to myself, "I wonder why?" Our instructors face lights up, and says super enthusiastically, "You're gonna go flying!"
As you might imagine, I didn't sleep Friday night. The realization that I was going to have to take a 15-20 ft. fall, go "flying up into the air", be in control of someones life, and drag 4 pounds of rope up a wall was overwhelming.
We arrived for our class and learned how to tie the Yosemite knot, practiced clipping into quick draws, learned how to spot climbers to the first clip, how to shuffle the rope as a belayer, how to stop the rope as a belayer, and finally learned rope management and feet placement as a climber. In case you didn't know, you aren't allowed to practice true lead climbing in the gym until you have passed the test. So, if you never take the class or practice out doors, your first test could potentially be your first time ever actually taking a true fall and your first time being on the receiving end of a 20 plus foot fall.
As my climbing partner was ascending his first route, our instructor says, "You guys are my little experiment. I have never seen a weight difference quite as large as yours." I am thinking, "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Out of nowhere my climbing partner is ready to take his first fall, and BOOM my ass shot in the air, my ATC slamming into the first quick draw. The first quick draw is 15 feet up the wall, hanging about 8-12 inches from the wall. Remember fifteen feet is about 5 feet taller than the average bedroom ceiling. Awesome right?!
Now it is my turn to lead, let me tell you dragging four pounds of rope up a wall, let alone a wall that is not completely vertical is hard. Four pounds is about the weight of 1 gallon of milk. Would you want to drag a rope up a fifty foot wall, while stopping every five feet to clip the rope to wall, so that if you fall you won't die? Probably not, but I am crazy and this is what I do for fun! Anyways, I reached the top of the route and it was my turn to take my first fall... what was I going to do? Chicken out and say no no no I cannot do this, and climb down to the next clip?! Nope, I harnessed my fear and fell! It wasn't that bad! Totally ready to come down to the ground, they told me to climb to the top again and re fall!! After my second fall, I realized that falling isn't too scary... but that flying up into the air.. that is definitely scary!
Point of this story, I am a bad ass and there ain't nuttin you can do about it!
