Hello climbers!
Smugglers Notch is looking increasingly barren as of late, no leaves are left on the trees, and the colorful leaves that littered the ground on my last visit are all brown and decayed. Since my spot is directly adjacent to the road, I do not see much wildlife in the past apart from the occasional squirrel and chipmunk. However, now, I did not see any squirrels or chipmunks.
When I think about my phenology spot and why I chose it, I am reminded of the countless hours I have spent under the rocks at Smuggs, specifically the Big Cottonwood Boulder. I threw myself at sharp quartzite crystals to get higher than I did last time—an unlikely and weird passion consisting of monotony and masochism. Who knew something like this would be responsible for almost all of my happiness?
That’s pretty much why I chose this phenology spot, I love this sport, and whenever I am near climbable rocks, the world is rightside up.
Climb on folks
Eric