Uncle Ralph

My uncle Ralph passed away this morning. He's the first of my Dad's siblings that I have known well to die. (My uncle Val passed away when I was very young.) So . . . with my current philosophies and lifestyle, I choose to celebrate his life and the memories I have of him, but I'd be a lying son of a gun if I didn't admit that I am rather sad at this moment, More on that later. I don't want this blog to be about me, but rather about Uncle Ralph and what a good guy he was.

Uncle Ralph lived in Tuscon, AZ. I'm pretty sure that his family was the most distant of all the Prices. Still, he seemed to make it up to Carey, ID every Memorial Day to visit the family and Grandpa's grave almost every year. When I was five years old, Dad, Julia, Grandma, Grandpa Elmo and I drove in Grandpa's silver Toyota van down to Arizona to go to Lisa (Ralph's daughter) and Tommy's wedding. I was little, but I remember Uncle Ralph setting up a pinata for all the kids. I remember his house fairly well, and especially the back yard. (because it scared me for some reason)

Some years, after the usual Memorial Day trek though Carey and Pecaboo, all the cousins would end up in Burley at Uncle David's house. Only one person could water ski at a time, but five or six people could be on the water weinie at any given moment. It was the goal of the given Uncle driving the boat towing the big yellow tube to make enough twists and turn, big waves, and speed to violently dump all of the riders into the cold Snake River water. No one, and I repeat no one, knew how to violently dump poor Price kids in the river like Uncle Ralph. There were cousins who would refuse to ride when Uncle Ralph got behind the wheel. :)

It's too bad I didn't get down to see him this last year when I was half living in Phoenix. Tuscon is a pretty short drive from where I spent my off time. Still, I know that my Uncle was a great guy. He deserves to have his life celebrated, just like we all should. He kept kicking until the end, and that's all anyone can do.

Just one of those nights

Pandora is being kind to me tonight. The music is soothing. My body is tired from climbing and running.

I know that I spray often about how good life is. It's unlikely that I'll stop any time soon.

My heart has been tugging at me to do a few things in the next year. They're hardly resolutions, just desires. Here goes:

Road/Climbing Trip - As long as the Trooper will hold up, I want to visit parts of Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, Texas and Mexico and climb there. I want to live on the road. I can sleep in the car. I even bought a TomTom. I still need to find myself a portable stove of sorts, but I have food storage for several months and the motivation to climb.

Central America Trip - This one seems to be fading, but it will come back to me. I may be able to combine it with the road trip. If I end up in Texas, it would be a great jumping off point. South I shall go.

Anasazi - I want to work(ha!) for a couple weeks. I could use the quick money, yeah, but I really just want to go out, live in the woods, and see the miracles that happen on the trail. I'll go. There's no doubt.

It would be a shame for me to post this and none of the good songs that I've been listening to. So, enjoy some common, but good songs:

Ray

Denison

Wilco

Going to the Chapel

So, I went to Mormon church this week. 3 hours of church is a lot of Church. There's no way that's going to happen every week. Well, if you can stream video, here are a couple about the Mo's that I think are . . . enjoyable.

Mormon Axe commercial:


Extreme Mormons:

Bah Humbug? To whom it may concern . . .

I've debated writing this blog simply because I suspect it will generate a decent amount of flame, and it's going to be a promise that is not so easy to keep. Hear me out:

This year, 2008, I will not be giving or receiving gifts of commercial/monetary value. That will be firmly enforced, kept, whatever. Please. I kindly ask anyone who feels obligated or whatever need you feel, read the blog. It is my sincere, sincere desire to do this one time. Those who wouldn't have gotten me anything anyway, Thanks. Also, I invite you to consider what I have to say. Before this gets any real attention(like anyone really cares), let me plead my case a little.

First, this is a cheap experiment if nothing else. I've had 28 Christmases so far in this life. I suspect I'll have a few more. If I do this one time and it sucks, there's no real loss. It's immaterial. It will be forgotten and drowned out by all the other jolly holiday seasons throughout the rest of my life.

Second, and I'm beginning to think most importantly, "Xmas" has gotten way too commercial. Thanks for the insight, Charlie Brown. While from an economic standpoint, we need to spend to strengthen the economy . . . well, this seems like an ideal year to just go ahead and let the economy tank. After it bottoms out, we can all buy stock and wait for the next bubble. Anyway, I think think that separation of church, state, and economy is a good idea. I don't condone Mormons warping their religion and "beliefs" in profit seeking activities. It's follow the Prophet. Seriously, those of you who own "Sons of Helaman/Momma's Boys shirts and Greg Olsen paintings . . . really? Your muscles aren't that big, and Jesus was never that airbrushed. I'll offer some alternatives for gift giving at the end of the post, perhaps some that are more in line with gold, frankincense, and myrrh . . . or the mortal birth of a God.

Lastly, money is an issue. I'm doing alright. I have sufficient for my needs. I have learned a lot regarding money in the most recent period of my life. More than I learned in four years of college, and another four working in the corporate world. No matter how cliche, money and "things" do not equal happiness. Stop kidding yourselves. Think about all the times in your life that you were truly happy. If images of boats, big houses, and fancy clothes come to mind, readjust your priorities. Repent. If, however, hard work, family, friends, health, and contentment come to mind, I would invite you to look into where that happiness really came from. Debt and extravagance more than anything stem from love of money. They are killers, and true evils in our society. Those who build their enormous mansions as close to the Temple as possible should consider the humble beginnings, the simple life, and the sacrifice of the Savior. I declare that you mock him more through your vanity than the thief or the liar.

“The worst fear that I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and His people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing, poverty, and all manner of persecution, and be true. But my greatest fear for them is that they cannot stand wealth; and yet they have to be tried with riches, for they will become the richest people on this earth” (Brigham Young, reported in James S. Brown, Life of a Pioneer [1900], 122-23).

Wow, that was a tangent . . .

I think that my experiment will be a huge success. Instead of material gifts, let's give each other time. Let's educate each other and lift each other up. Let's feed each other.

Finally, my gift requests:

Dad - I'd like to hear some stories about Uncle Val. I'd really like for you to climb with me down in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The winter is a great time as long as the sun is out, so next time you're down here plan on it.

Mom - I'd like some of your delicious food. I would also like for us to pick up an old family tradition that's been forgotten over the years(How the Grinch stole Christmas, pulling people out of snowbanks with the suburban, whatever.) Hell, I'll go sing to the neighbors with you.

Sisters - Hmm . . . I guess I'm going to sound like Dad on this one, but I just want you to be happy. One specific time when drama or disaster comes into your life, I want you to take a step back and just say, "I'm not going to let this get me down, and I'm doing it for Jason."

Brian - I want you to submit a bid to build my friends' house. I'll see about getting you a copy of the plans. I need to hear from you more often. Maybe you should come climb too. I bet you'd be better than me in no time.

Friends - Just be my friends. I'm grateful for all you do for me. There is no way I could be out of debt, and having as much fun in my life right now if it weren't for very good friends.

Merry Christmas!

Have some pictures:

Why I like cams

I really like my cams, and as I've explained before, they allow me to climb rocks without having someone else go up and place bolts.

A cam works by having at least two and up to four spring-loaded, rounded metal lobes(1) that oppose each other. The spring allows the lobes to be pulled in, by a trigger bar(3), making the cam head more narrow. Then the lobes are placed in a crack in the rock, they expand, and hold tight. A stem(2), either single or U-shaped, extends from the axle running between the lobes. The rope is clipped to this stem by a carabiner(4), often attached to a nylon sling(5).

When a climber falls, force is applied which pulls on the stem causing the lobes to expand even further. This outward pressure is transferred to the rock, and combined with friction in a good placement, the cam holds in place.

The rounded lobes are actually curved in a logarithmic spiral. This is important because it allows the outward pressure caused by the expanding lobes to always have the same angle. If the lobes were just circular round, the angle of the outward pressure would change depending on how far engaged the lobes were when placed in the rock. I'll go ahead and steal an illustration to help me explain this part.

(There are a lot of people who have explained this a lot better than I can.)



Here's a nice diagram that Metolius provides:


Anyway, this blog started out as a post about my first time falling on trad gear. Thing is, since I started this blog, I've fallen on the gear more than once, and the excitement and luster of trad virginity has slightly faded. Only slightly though. It's turning into trad love. I fell on the yellow TCU (Metolius "three-cam unit") on a climb called "Extreme Unction" in the most beautiful canyon in the Wasatch.That's Jerad getting ready to go up second and clean all my fancy cams up.

I fell again on a yellow TCU in the San Rafael Swell on a climb called "Anchors from Hell".
The picture doesn't do the climb any justice at all. The climb is a finger crack in a tight dihedral with scary moves up at the top. I actually fell just a little bit off the ground, but it was still nice to have the gear hold me off the deck.

I'm going to take the liberty of linking a photo that Adam (friend) took of Alex climbing on "Old Bushmill's" crack. I was actually able to climb this crack cleanly and didn't have to test any of the gear that I placed. (It would have held fine)

This crack is in a really wide dihedral and goes from rattly fingers up to big hands in size.

I climbed it twice before I felt like I was ready to lead it, and by then, it was the end of the day. I was sure shaky, and almost slipped out of the crack in a few places. It was exhilarating to get up there and clip the anchors. I almost hated to be lowered back down to the horizontal world. If anyone ever gets a chance to climb something like this, don't let it go. Crack climbing is dangerous and painful and so so rewarding.

Climb safe out there.

Price

Comes a Time

"Oh oh, This old world keeps spinning 'round.
It's a wonder tall trees ain't laying down.
There comes a time . . ."

Summer is a season for love. Fall is a season for solitude. There's something magical that happens in the air. It makes the leaves turn color, and makes every breath bite like crisp apples. Those leaves turn color because all the world is beautiful in the fall. They aren't preparing for winter. They love the fall, just like me, so they dress it up and make themselves pretty.

Some have questioned some of my decisions in the last few months . . . particularly regarding a relationship that ended. I'm content. My mind is not focused on careers or family, no matter how society, the Church, my parents or anyone else wants it. My mind constantly wanders to 5.12, how good the cold air feels in my breast, rhythm, classical guitars, the burning soreness in my arms. I wanted my drive home two nights ago to never end. 90.9 just kept giving me new wonderful flavors of music. The air blowing in my face was like kissing the prettiest girl.

I'm happy where I am, and I think back on the relationship I had. It was as perfect a relationship as anyone could have. No drama, no stress, lots of love and fun. So why did it end? It just did. Why did God decide to make fall such an amazing time to be alive? Things like this don't require explanation. They cannot because there is none. There just comes a time . . .


Just one more thing that puts fall head and shoulders above the rest. Climbing, of course. I climbed Mexican Crack (5.10a) in LCC today. I onsighted that climb. I placed cams and nuts, and thought that I would fall, but the cool air sucked the moisture off the rock and allowed my hands to stick. I never had to test the placements of my climbing gear, and I'm happy about that.

Mexican Crack is pretty easy to spot once you know where it is. It's the only crack on this rock. It diagonals up and left, if you are still lost. :)


Jared showing me the way . . . up.

To live a simple life is all I need. :)

Making a Tick List

So,

I try to keep track of all the rock climbing I do. It satisfies me to get home from climbing and immediately get on mountainproject.com to tick off the routes I've done.

I've recently started trad climbing which is an amazing new experience. I'd say it's nearly impossible to understand the difference until you've been out there and done it. It allows you to go places that weren't "designated". Uncharted territory is cool even if it's been done before and is in all the guide books and has anchor chains at the top. There's just something about it. Comparison: Rock Band vs. playing guitar - Both quite satisfying, only one feels real.

That being said, I've also climbed in the gym a lot lately which has made me strong. Kind of like playing lots and lots of air guitar. (stole photo/Sharma dab)























Here are some of the places I've climbed over the last 6 months or so. (many pictures linked/stolen)

Grand Teton, WY:




























Wind River Range, WY:



















Near Mesquite, NV:






























Wasatch Range, UT:



















Moab, UT:





























City of Rocks, ID:

(I stole Moab and Big Cottonwood)

The best wall ever?

Lime Kiln Canyon sits about 12 miles outside of Mesquite, NV. I know that of the 2 people who read this, rock climbing isn't among your to 100 or so interests, but I have to show this place off a little.

Summers and I went to the nascar truck race in vegas, and I had read about this place in a magazine. I'm sick right now, so my writing is really sucking. I can tell. Let me get to pictures.

Do me and you the favor of clicking on the pictures so you can see them in big. It will be worth the extra mouse movement. I promise.

Here's me leading a hard 5.10:

Our new friend Jason higher up on the same wall:
And a portrait so you can see how huge this place is:I may spend some time in the Utah/Nevada/Arizona corner this winter. I mean, look at this place. It's amazing.

A song I seem to like

Joshua Radin's Star Mile

New days for Due nays

I don't really know what that title means.

I'm having a great time with this whole life thing. Callie and I went climbing at the City of Rocks last weekend and had an amazing time. Callie is amazing and I'm not sure what I ever did to have such a pretty girl like me, but I'd do it again.
A couple weeks before that we made a trip through the Darby Canyon ice caves. I'm rock climbing nearly every day, or at least "plastic" climbing.

I think that besides the constant ache of arthritis in my hands, I'm as healthy as I've ever been.

My family is great to me, and my friends' families treat me like their own. I can't believe the amazing gift that life is.

I think that my uncle Val must have had a life like mine. I have a few of the things that he left behind, and I hear good things about him on a regular basis.

If perchance my time passed away, I do want to make some final requests, though I pray that final days won't come for a long long time.
1. Bury me in a pine box. I know that funerals are supposed to be some big expensive cry fest, but if I go, just put me in the ground and celebrate how amazing a life I got to live. Have a party, and if you don't, I'll come haunt you.

2. My things are few, but let Sam and Devan and Summers pick through what they want and then I don't know, sell the rest on ebay or something.

3. Burton Cemetery - It just seems like a good place to rest.

4. Just be happy and live your lives. Things are not what make life great. Life is. Don't spend your lives buried in work you don't like, or play you don't like for that matter. Drink (unfiltered) from a mountain stream sometime. Take a risk that you never have before. Stop and help someone change a tire. Give away something you think you love. You'll find that you don't miss it at all.

I'll stop now for fear of becoming a motivational quotes calendar . . . but just know that my life is good. I'm happy. I hope you are too.

Grand Teton Aug 27, 2008. Full Exum.