like rain crashing from skies

Ramona Falls, at the base of Mt. Hood.

After the Whipper

The Wizard catches a rocket to the first bolt as CB comes off the crux of Tissue Tiger, 5.12b, on the Military Wall in the Red River Gorge.

Heavenly

Temple of Heaven, Beijing, another dubious site for a four-man game of frisbee.

Ablutions

Two women having a wash in the morning sun, in Kathmandu.  This was a spring (maybe?  or upwelling from the nearby river?  whatever it was, it was not untouched by the dodgy Kathmandu groundwater) in a little shrine below the temple complex at Swayambhunath.

All the World's a Stage

Performance of traditional Chinese theater, Xi'an.  Can't for the life of me remember the story (it was one of many), but I do remember that it was beautifully staged and that the accompanying dinner involved more varieties of dumpling than I thought possible.

Sweet Columbine

Columbine on the trail to La Plata Peak, Colorado.

Out of the Shadows

A friend of mine on Burros Might Fly, 10a in the Blaaaaack Coooorridooooor, Red Rocks.  This is the easier bit, just after the tricky traverse to get to that undercling.  As with many routes on this trip, I was draw bitch here and let me tell you, sometimes being able to clip the rope 8 inches earlier makes one hell of a difference.

Portrait of a Lion

D'awwww.

But, yes, that brown sploogy area on the left side of the picture is his body and, yes, this was taken shortly before he was to join us in the tent.

Gateway to the Floating World

Rani Pokhari, Kathmandu, Nepal.  Ennui.

Down time

Climbing outside often involves a lot of sitting.  Fortunately, you always have interesting things to look at (and an excuse to rest).  This is down in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky; a really wonderful route called To Defy the Laws of Tradition, 5.10a.  Lots of tricky, balanced face climbing and not much pump.