Pesto and Hand Cracks

Today was great, despite Craig telling me at 7:30 am that he forgot about the college basketball semi-finals this weekend. "Quinn, I forgot. Don't you remember? We can't go climbing today? College Basketbla bla bla is on."
Our day trip to climb Little Granite Mountain, in Prescott, was most definitely canceled! Basketball wins over a sunny 80 degree day of climbing rocks? What what WHAT?

I went for a run to clear my head. When I returned I jumped in the pool to find Craig working on his bike with some frustration. We both decided a trip to the McDowell Mountains was in order. I packed some water, Craig grabbed his keys and we jumped in the van.

We arrived at Gardner's wall uncertain of the exact location of the route we had intended. Craig headed up a very wide dihedral, that provided very little protection. I urged him to step left into a sweet looking diagonal finger crack. He did, and soon thereafter hooted with excitement. The crack zagged back right 100 feet -- hand sized!

JERK! I thought, or maybe even said out loud!

It was the best granite crack I have climbed in Arizona! Beautiful, varying, I almost peed myself!! A moderate compromise between Pear Buttress and White Whale, both on Lumpy Ridge in Estes Park. I am going back Monday to do my favorite thing, run and solo!

After another jump in the pool and a discussion over internet privacy laws, we settled on dinner options. Pesto pizza! Wes has been a very disciplined gardener this winter. Aside from the consistent selection of broccoli, peppers and tomatoes, the spinach and basil both looked particularly scrumptious. I whipped together some pesto, Craig pounded the dough, and Rae happily drank her Murphy's Stout to the sound of VCU getting worked in the last two minutes of their college ball season.

YUM!
Recipe for Pesto in the "Ringmaster Recipe" link!