The Perfect Weekend

I get away from school at about noon on Friday to start my drive to the perfect three day weekend. It does not matter who is going with me because the final destination is home. All I need is my car, climbing gear, and a weekends worth of clothes. Driving can be relaxing sometimes and this drive is only 7 hours. Billings to Laurel then south to Cody, sometimes in silence, sometimes with the radio blasting, my dog napping next to me. The country starts to open up and become more mountainous all at the same time. While some think this is ugly, it is home to me: wide open spaces with distant mountain nestling me in. The temptation to stop in Cody for a quick climbing session on ridiculously hard sandstone boulder problems is battling my want to make it home. I decide to continue south to Thermopolis, home of the hot springs. The land gets even more beautiful. Keep driving. This part of the drive is fun and exciting, I am speeding through the Wind River Canyon pretending I'm a race car driver and gawking at the rock faces all around me that are making my hands sweat just thinking about climbing them. Make it to Shoshone where I do have to stop. Mmm, World Famous Malts. I only have about 3.5 hours ahead of me. Next stop is Lander where I will be on Monday. Today, however, I am just passing through. Cell phone service drops off as I start up South Pass. This pass freaks me out a bit as there have been many accidents up here including the one that took the life of a mentor of mine from High School. Driving at decent speeds I finally make it home.
Good old Rock Springs. There are hugs all around and I get updated on what everyone is up to. This isn't merely my immediate family, extended family is there as well. Cousins that I grew up with, my crazy and very fun aunts. The uncle that knows everything. Everyone is here and everyone wants to know the latest happenings. We talk and laugh and make fun until it is very late. The next morning is an early one.
My brothers and I get up and prepare the boat while my mother and my aunts make breakfast and pack lunch. Ryan, the brother right under me, has a whole system down now for getting the boat ready, He always has been the responsible one. Since extended family is here we have two boats at our disposal and both are now packed and ready to go. It takes only thirty minutes to get to the Flaming Gorge where we boat. I nap most of the way there. Even on a Saturday only has three other boat trailers stand in the parking lot. We get everyone aboard and launch.
The air is just starting to warm up and the water is perfect glass. We throw in a cd and blast it to get pumped and Robby, the third son in my family, is the first in the water. He has gotten good at slalom skiing. The camera gets brought out and I go trigger happy with it getting all the amazing shots of him cutting the most beautiful turns on this perfect water with antelope and a big spire of rock behind him. Then he decides its time to goof around and manages to balance on one foot and use the other to hold the rope. Soon he gets tired and decides his turn is over.
I can't contain myself anymore and jump in next. It is slalom for me as well. Its been awhile but the thrill of making those super fast cuts and just trying to hold on is still there. I go at it hard and fast, no goofing off like Robby, it's all about the super fast cuts. My heart is pumping, my legs and arms are tired, nothing is better. I finally eat it pretty hard, managing to tumble a ways losing the ski, knock the breath out of me, but I come out of the water smiling.
Ryan is next; he is our wakeboarding expert. The camera is in my hands again as I try to catch shots of him flying though the air, attempting new tricks. This kid is amazing! He is getting about as high as the top of the rope tower and is currently working on his 360. There is not much else to say, he is good at adding his own little bit of style as he boards, whether he is on the water or flying above it.
The rest of the day is more of the same. My cousins get in and try out both slalom and wakeboarding and are getting pretty good. My dad gets in on the wakeboard and manages to pull off some tricks of his own while hooting and hollering. At one point the other boat follows to watch and take pictures. Most of the older people are in that boat, fishing and relaxing in the sun.
For lunch we tie the boats together and enjoy the company and the atmosphere. Where else can you boat in rugged country with cows, and antelope on the shore? There is even a tumbleweed in the water! Best of all we get to do it all again tomorrow.
The next day is just as awesome as the first with just as much cheering, jeering, laughing and crazy water skills as the first. Then I am off again. We say our goodbyes, this can be quite the process. Again hugs all around, thats 15 or so people with at least two hugs each for my mom and dad. I am loaded up with food and double check that I didn't forget everything, then I start my drive to Lander. Once more over the pass and I am meet some good friends for some of the best climbing the country knows.
The walls are granite and full of super amazing pockets. Each climb brings its own challenge and reward. The friends jokingly make fun and push each other and me on. Today I am climbing the best I ever have. My jitters go away and I lead with confidence pushing the fear of falling out of my mind. My friends all seem to be climbing at their best as well. Its amazing how when one of us is doing well it inspires the rest to climb stronger. They make this look easy, putting down climbs with ease and grace that I only get up two holds, can't pull anymore and take a fall. Eventually I have to say goodbye and start my voyage back. What a great weekend.