Sunday, January 06, 2008

*BREAKING NEWS* Cory Goodwin Climbs El Capitan With No Equipment!

Well, it happened again. We took Cory out in public and he just started freakin' out.

Every time we take him somewhere cool, he has to start climbing things. On Maui it was a rock in the Bamboo Forest.


Just look how happy he is. All you need to do is give this guy a rope and a rock and he will be entertained for a day. Pretty sad. But anyway, we decided that since he was coming to visit we should take him to Yosemite, Land of the Huge, Big Rocks that Everyone Loves to Climb. See how nice we are?

Well, you can imagine how happy Cory was once we got there. He saw those mountainous rocks and just about fainted. His eyes got bigger and bigger until they finally saw....El Capitan! Da da da duuuummmm!


I tell you he was so awe-struck it was amazing. This was no puny little rock with a rope ladder like on Maui. Oh no! This, THIS was far grander!

He grabbed the nearest pair of binoculars and gazed up at it in all its glorious, rocky beauty.

And then breathlessly announced, "I'm climbing it!" He then proceeded to throw his binoculars on the ground and run through the snow. We gazed after him in silent shock as he padded his way across the snowy field and towards the forest that cloaked the base of the mountain. When he stopped a quarter of the way across the field (it was much bigger than it looked) and gasped for breath, we silently sighed with relief. He would realize how silly this was and come plodding back. But even as we were thinking this thought, Cory looked up at the mountain and took off again, obviously spurred on by the magnificent sight of the rock.

He finally reached the bottom of the mountain and began searching for a good path up. AH HA! There was a rope! He evilly rubbed his hands together and chuckled, "Excellent," drawing out the 'e' to give it maximum scare factor. And then because he did receive maximum scare factor he did it again, chuckling still more evilly, "Excellent."

He then proceeded to grab the rope and give it a good shake, just to make sure that any person who was using the rope would fall off and give him a turn the rope was secure.

Being the dedicated journalist that I am I followed him and got some shots of his ascent.


Here he is just after he found the rope and started climbing. Look how happy this guy is! Hee hee hee, he's thinking, look at this rock! It's HUMANGOUS! and I'm climbing it! MUAHAHAHAHA!!!

But he didn't allow himself too much time for evil laughter, there was the matter of actual climbing to get down to. So he focused more steadily on his current situation.



Okay man, gotta focus!


Whew! I've been climbing for a while. I wonder how far I've gone?


Not very. Hmmm.... Well, better keep going.

After hours of climbing he finally reached the top. Wow, I've been climbing for hours! But I just reached the top! Woohoo!


YAY! I'm on top of...



a really big rock.

So he didn't really climb El Capitan, but he can always dream...


Wow. That mountain is HUGE! Some day, I'm gonna climb it...

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

See how deceptive binoculars can be?

Anonymous said...

Haha! Great post sister dear! I can see Cory doing that. :)

Anonymous said...

Me,Me, I'm Next!!!!!! Except I am rappelling back down in the classic Australian abseil method! Looks like great fun Cory! Hope I get out there soon!

Hal

Anonymous said...

Very funny, I laughed all the way through this post! Can't wait to visit again! We'll have to find an even bigger rock for Cory to climb - is there an El Capitan Jr. anywhere in the park? :)

Anonymous said...

Bravo, Bravo.....I couldn't have captured that adventure if I tried, you took the words right out of my mouth. One of these days it just might be the mighty "El Capitan" I conquer. For now, "The Adventures in boulder (rock) Climbing" will do. Vanessa, eeeeeexcellent work!!! I laughed till my stomach hurt. We had a wonderful time and look forward to coming out there again to carry on the adventures.

Hal, what is the Abseil method??.... Hopefully it helps me climb quicker .

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, I just realized that Cory has the binocular syndrome! :P

Anonymous said...

Just rereading Vanessa's posts and saw your question Cory. Abseil Method is placing the Figure of 8 in the small of your back rather than from your front and descending head first walking down El Capitan Jr.
Or - Speed roping head first!
What a RUSH!