Big trip looming!

     I am about to embark on one of the best rock climbing trips of my life!  In just two short months I will board a plane to Colorado.  My trip will comprise of two parts, some work, some play.  Luckily for me, I work in the rock climbing industry and the work portion is to attend  the CWA (Climbing Wall Association)conference so even the work will be a great deal of fun to me! 
     I will start off on May 29th, arriving in Denver early afternoon.  This year I have decided to bring my head route setter with me.  Since the conference does not begin until the next day we have decided to check out some local gyms on day one.  The big three in Boulder are Movement, The Boulder Rock Club, and The Spot.  We don't know just yet which one(s) we will go to that day, but by trip's end, we will have made all the rounds.
     May 30th.  The conference begins with Chris Sharma delivering the key note address!  Some may think of the next few days as boring lectures, speeches and other stereotypes about these kind of things, but not me.  CWA is like a real life Facebook for networking in the rock climbing community.  There are so many ideas.  So many questions.  Some of the brightest people in our field will be there.  Last year I met other gym owners and managers, route setters, pro climbers, equipment manufacturers, and also really cool normal people and locals.
     The CWA conference will wrap up on Saturday night, the 1st of June.  There will be all the normal festivities that come along with that, but the real fun for me begins the next day.  June 2, Sunday, I will have free with my coworker and friend to go climbing where ever we want.  I am thinking Boulder Canyon or the Flat Irons because of proximity.  We still are unsure of what we should climb and what raptor closings will prevent us from climbing.  We will come armed with a "standard rack" so all suggestions are welcome!  In fact, please do make suggestions! 
     Monday I will drop off my buddy at the airport and pick up my fiance and another friend.  We will have the next six days to climb!  The only concrete plans we have are to climb Petit Grepon in Rocky Mountain National Park.  I have reserved the Andrew's Creek campsite in the back country in hopes of getting an early start on the approach and climb.  Other than that, what should we climb?  Same story, we will have a "standard rack".  Hope to hear from lots of you on what to climb and I will try my best to update this page frequently if anybody decides to actually follow it!

     We are the new humans! We have lost our instinctual fear of heights and no longer avoid the edge, in fact, we seek it out.  It is in the void of empty space that we desire to be. We retreat from the trappings of society and venture into great and open spaces in search of something more.  The tools we use in the pursuit of our passions may vary, but we are all part of a vertical family.  I hope that this place may serve as a community board of sorts for the sharing of adventures, ideas, passions, and opportunities for all who find peace in the airy heights above.

     The vertical world is where my heart is and my mind can only struggle to please the heart.
                                                                                            -Shawn McCartney