Fall -back in the USA, the giraffe makes a new friend

brianzurek
Jan 1, 2022
3 min read

Updated: Feb 9, 2022

Lost in the desert outside of Tucson...

A short trip down to Houston to sort out my storage unit got side tracked by climbing and Turkey day dinners, almost 3 months and 7500 miles later I settle back in Calgary for white Christmas and New Years! short trip down to Houston he says... only 116 hours later!

Mandatory last stop

Deadmans Basin MT - 1st night back in the USA

Full moon under the stars....

Part 1a Tensleep

On way stooped at Tensleep WY for a little climbing

somehow ended up with not one climbing photo... but following local signs found my way to the crag

even made some friends

ate American food

soaked up in the magical hot springs of Thermopolis

enjoyed the fall colors

and watched the sun set...

After a few weeks and a couple of climbs later it was time to move on.... I had heard rumors of climbing in South Dakota so I packed up the van and made my way over to the black hills.

Part 1b Spearfish

1st stop was spearfish - the supposed home of 5.12! Steep, short, pocketed limestone - power was the name of the game.

actually managed a few climbing photos this time...

Nice free camping not to far down the road

which provided beautiful views of the night sky

Part 1c the Needles

Next stop was the Needles just behind Mount Rushmore, a sea of granite with crystals the size of sharks awaits...

Did I mention big crystals?

I wonder why its called needles?

but alas winter was coming and it was time to move on - one last night above the badlands before hopping over to Minneapolis to see family.

Intermission 1 - Minneapolis

Having not seen my family for quite some time I made a short stop in Minneapolis - I of course only took a picture of the dog

and me playing around with new gear!

then it was back on the road - thru Chicago on my way east

Part 2a - the Red

A friend was in the Red (red river gorge - that is) so I swung by for a few days to hop on some of the biggest holds I would ever fall off. And fall off I did! haha

Hmmm guess not a lot of the photos from the Red. Too much pizza and too much effort trying to climb steep juggy routes - well there is a cure for that and its called the New

Part 2b - the New

Miles, some would say endless, of vertical to steep bullet hard cliffs rising above the New River. Friends were camped and I was determined to send...

....until my fingers bled.

old friends were seen and new made

the fall colors were in full swing!

perfect for the evening light

looking at cool rocks

and little woodland friends along the way

Alas cold weather was coming and thanksgiving was just a few days away so a return trip to Minneapolis to spend holiday with family was in order

Intermission 2 - Minneapolis to Houston

Thanksgiving was nice and the camera was put mostly away... dinner with mom was untraditional and the best - Jumbalya with rice!

After a full meal was had - it was time to head to Houston so the purpose of the trip could be full filled. Before I left a companion was made - Teddy from when I was a child became my new copilot on the way down south.

Off to Houston we go to deal with stuff - stuff:

but mostly turned into hanging out with old friends. The stuff will have to wait for the next big date!

Part 3 - Vegas to Calgary

Somehow Las Vegas ended up along the way so why not stop at Red Rocks to play.

While there was allot of driving I found a few places to camp along the way

Eventually found our campsite outside the Vegas strip...

And I managed to spend a few more days on a climbing trip!

Eventually play time was done - winter was coming and Brian missed his sweetie the van was packed, the gear was stored away, now was just time to drive home to see the Giraffe and Eva once more!