Summary

Description

[Pictures]

Part of the Extreme Rappels rope team #1 (rope position 2). There was also a second Extreme Rappels team at the last rope position (26?) across from the ascending rope.

The weather forecast for the weekend was pretty crappy: near-freezing temps with possibility of rain or maybe snow. Lisa decided to stay home because she had a big deadline for work. The crappy weather helped make her decision easier. Those two things made my decision harder since I wasn't psyched about tent camping in that sort of weather. After a bunch of angsting, I finally decided to go for it. I checked out the Subaru for space to see whether I could fit in the back with the seats down for sleeping if it was too cold or nasty to pitch a tent when I got to the campground. (There was, but just barely and only on the diagonal.) So I headed up to NRG Thursday evening.

Just after I arrived (late), Mike Phelps offered extra cabin bunk space to me and Peter Hertl. Win! While the cabin wasn't heated and really wasn't terribly well sealed, it was much better than pitching a tent and more comfortable than sleeping in the car. The walls blocked the wind and did retain some heat.

Friday I bundled up in full-on winter alpine gear and headed out to The Bridge with a team to rig the banner and then onto the catwalk to rig our ropes. It was damn cold under The Bridge.

Saturday morning pre-dawn was early and cold. Once again, I bundled up in pretty much all the clothes I had brought. (4-5 layers, top and bottom) Despite not having to be out on The Bridge with the first team, I was awoken along with everyone else, got up, and got dressed. There was a nice hot breakfast in the camp common room. I ended up not riding over with the early team who had parking passes and instead caught a ride with Phil since he had a full-day driving pass since he was working the Highline. He dropped me off at the parking where I found Julie, Nicole, Kristen, and Savannah in Mike's truck. Everything schedule-wise was delayed and backed up (due to the cold and weather, I assume). I hung out with them in the truck until the call came on the radio for us to head to The Bridge. Nikki and Chris joined us for the walk over.

I was last to get on rope so I spent a long time standing on the catwalk. I was pretty well dressed for the weather, but I was still cold. I eventually got on rope for my first rappel around 11am (IIRC). Ended up getting in 3 rappels and one climb of the ascent rope. Saw some snow flurries while on rope. Also got one ride down on the Highline (which was a first for me).

I ended up at the bottom of the XTR #2 and ascent ropes at the end of the day (because I had ascended then rappelled back down there) and helped with the de-rig of those ropes.

Dinner at Chico's Saturday was a bit of a small cluster since there was already a large group seating in part of the large group area, but it worked out OK. Hanging out at the bonfire after dinner was fun (although I made sure to move far away when the dumbasses were putting bottles of motor oil on the fire to burn).

Overall, it turned out to be very much worth the trip. Saw lots of friends and ended up having a great time despite the cold and wet.