After 5 weeks of clinging to sandstone mini jugs and getting pumped out of our minds in the Red River Gorge, my partner Tom and I have moved on to another classic American sport climbing destination: Rifle, Colorado. Making the transition from typically easy route reading and grippy rock in the RRG to the cryptic beta and polished limestone in Rifle was not an easy one. I envy the climber with the talent to immediately evolve and feel strong and accomplished when switching between such drastic styles.

The Red River Gorge! Ah, those words are music to my ears! Ever since I visited the area 3 years ago, I have yearned to come back. Yet unfortunately, the prime seasons for climbing (spring & fall) seem to also be the prime seasons for learning. So I put in my time, and I have emerged as a Registered Nurse! Yahoo! So did I jump straight into a full time job? Heck no. I have my whole life to work! Instead, my boyfriend Tom and I packed up our lives into a tiny storage locker, and said goodbye to...

I'm long past being 'in' Squamish, that infernal rain has started, and the climbing season there has come to it's yearly close. Squamish holds a dear place in my heart, the destination of my first international climbing trip, the first hard boulder problems I flashed, the start of my first solo road trip. The forest didn't disappoint this go around, either. It was my third time there and most extended visit yet. 

Here's the fourth installment of Joe Kinder and Colette McInerney's Road Trip Series for Eastern Mountain Sports. Check out the entire series here !!