Rockclimbing Tollhouse Rock

I think that adventure is measured but the mindset that brings you to wild places. If you want adventure, you can go and get it! Recently my brother and I didn't do the hardest climb in the most wild place....but none of that matters when you're pursuing an adventure. Adventure is a mindset! Adventure is the admission that it's OK to put a pause on the duties of the day to find the things that your normal day-to-day can't provide. 

Jameson recently called me and said, "I need an adventure, let's go climbing!" So we booked a day that worked for us to head to the hills. 

It was a great climb up a classic route. But it was never about the route itself....it was about adventure -- cultivating a mindset that sought out the beauty and peace that is found outdoors when earth meets sky. 

After the climb, we decided hang out on the summit, drink coffee, read, talk, and listen to Jesus. Glorious! This is how adventures are made. 

 

At the end of the day, we watched the clouds roll-in and the weather change....it was time to head down the mountain. We found adventure.

These are good days.

From Neighborhood to Mountains

Our day started the Jackson Neighborhood as participants in a Serve Day. This was a gathering of neighbors and volunteers to clean alleys and renovate dilapidated lamp poles along Platt Avenue.

We are so thankful our kids enjoy being a part of the good work happening in our neighborhood. Uncle Jameson said at one point, "I was working with your kids...and they are amazing! They work really hard, take instruction, and don't stop until the job is done."  We've seen the same thing -- we are proud of the people they're becoming.

After our Serve Day under a blue sky and cool temps...it was time to head to the hills. The season is changing from winter to Spring (which in the valley basically means early summer). But the hills are still green and the wildflowers are in full bloom 

We enjoy going to Tollhouse Rock just outside of Fresno. In an hour or so...we are in multi-pitch granite heaven. On this particular trip, we took our housemate climbing for her first multi-pitch experience! She did amazing! 

It takes about 20 minutes from where we park on Hang Glider Slab to hike down to the base of the climb.

The first pitch of Tollhouse Traverse starts a couple hundred feet off the ground and follows a large left-leaning groove/crack system to the top of Cap Rocks. It's easy and very aesthetic. 

The foothills in the southern Sierras are beautiful this time of year. It feels like a privilege to spend time in these hills. 

Every good day in the mountains needs a summit shot! 

The day started with us serving Jesus in our neighborhood, and the day ended with Him serving us in His creation.

These are good days! 

When it's Christmas time...we think about birthdays.

The Christmas season is crazy for our family.  

3 birthdays in December

2 birthdays in January

....that's 5 birthdays in 32 days. 

Heidi's birthday was earlier this month...and to celebrate, she wanted to go rock climbing.   

We climbed a very fun climb at Tollhouse Rock named the Tollhouse Traverse with a few variations mixed in.    

We have been climbing together for over a third of our lives.  We have climbed all over the world on many different types of rock....but California's granite has to be some of the best out there!  

Something I love about Heidi is that she has never been "scared" of climbing.  For her, the antidote to fear is curiosity.  She is a learner and has a insatiable appetite to acquire new skills.  This has made climbing a life-long pursuit for for the both of us.  

Tollhouse Traverse follows a beautiful sweeping crack in the Sierra foothills high above California's central valley below.  

That evening we changed clothes and went on a date.  Climbers by day, dinner dates by night! ...and no, we didn't shower...we aint' got time for all that!

Another year

These are good days!

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Rock climbing and Sabbath keeping

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is a little bit of "extra".  Sabbath should have a little bit of "extra" in it.  Maybe that's a date night, or your favourite run, or hanging out with your favorite friend.  When you keep a sabbath, consider doing something that fits these criteria:

1. It brings you life and puts you at ease
2. It creates avenues for you to worship Jesus
3. It connects you to other people (sabbath is not a lonely experience, its a communal one)

Today my brother and I kept sabbath by climbing at Tollhouse Rock.  It continues to be a great place to keep sabbath.

It always feels good to knock out 4 pitches before lunch only an hour away from Fresno. 

Jameson's a good climber -- strong, fluid, safe, and confident.

We loved watching the clouds roll-in and roll away.  Half way up the climb the clouds engulfed us and decided to stay.  

It's always fun to climb in a cloud....it feels like reading a good mystery. 

Summit shot!  We made it! 

At the top, we enjoyed watching the clouds roll past us, carried by a gentle cool breeze.

Sabbath is about connecting with God, enjoying God, and enjoying the fellowship that God provides.  

Climb on and keep sabbathing! 

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Rock Climbing & mindset

This morning's 6:00am departure came quickly.

I needed two necessary fuels: gas and coffee.

Off to the hills with my brother Jameson for a day of climbing.

Coffee.  Morning prayer.  Coffee.

...and a beautiful drive into our granite cathedral. 

Tollhouse Rock often gets overshadowed by Yosemite....but it is truly an amazing place.

only 45 minutes from downtown Fresno. 

I had one friend describe it this way,

"Tollhouse has always been such a special place. The rock is warm and the air smells of Manzanita and Bay Laurel. Peregrines dive from above, cattle moo in the distance, the entire San Joaquin Valley spreads out below. Farmland stretches for miles and beyond that the high and rugged peaks of the sierra call out begging the local Tollhouse climber to come and imbibe on the fountain of adventure that waits among her craggy ramparts."

With a 4x4, getting up to Hang Glider slab is a breeze.  But seeing wet granite and soaked earth...we knew that our day of climbing was going to turn into another kind of adventure.

Food & fire....is there a better combo on a cold sabbath morning?

Adventure doesn't require a task....it requires a mindset.  The mindset is one filled with wonder, amazement, love for creation, and a willingness to see new things and allow yourself to feel the effect of those new things.  

adventure doesn't take much....

a good guy, a good fire, some good food in a great place under the care of a a greater God.

After a relaxed morning filled with conversation....a little hike over wet terrain is all we needed to warm-up and get the blood moving.

No climbing this time....but that's perfectly OK.  We had adventure.

These are good days.

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Rockclimbing - Tollhouse Rock

Rock climbing is one of our love languages.  Many of the preconceived ideas about climbing are that it is "too dangerous" and "too much risk."  And it can be dangerous....just like driving in the wrong conditions, in the wrong car, with the wrong driver can be dangerous.

Rock climbing is a great activity because it fosters a set of skills that healthy marriages require:  trust, communication, shared goals, and putting the needs of the other person before your own.

We have climbed together for over a decade and it's been an enduring activity for us through every season in our lives.  Now 4 kids later, most of the climbing we do together is with our kids...so that means short routes and half-days.

But today was different.

Our families watched our kids which meant that we got a whole day to ourselves in the mountains! 

We absolutely love Tollhouse Rock.  What a gem.  45 minutes from Fresno, short approaches, great 5-fun routes. Perfect! 

We did a famous route called Tollhouse Traverse.  It's an easy 4 pitch route which follows a continuous crack through a fun roof on pitch 3.  Then from there, an easy runout to the summit.

It was a perfect day for climbing -- tshirt weather, gentle breeze, and not another person to be seen.

These are happy days

11 years of marriage and closer than ever.

Summit party! 

 These are good days...

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