San Diego 260

Last night I spent some time looking back at my winter in Las Vegas last year and as much as I grew not to be a huge fan of Vegas, though it was one of my fondest memories of dirt bagging and climbing out there. Around this time last year, I was climbing with Jack every day in Red Rock Canyon, excited for a decently warm winter in the desert. It was a crucial development in my climbing and my resilience to living out of my car, which was a 2008 Subaru Forester. When New Year's Eve came around, Jack and i were parked at his buddy's warehouse with a view of the Las Vegas strip. We stayed up till midnight watching the city become live with celebration and to this day it was the most extravagant firework show I've seen. They were going off at every angle, huge bursts of colorful lights and touring helicopters flying through the strip. It made it feel like Las Vegas.

At the time life was just climbing, and I was happy to be where I was at. It was a new experience, and that was what I'm all about. I wouldn't live this lifestyle if it wasn't because every place i go becomes a new experience, whether it's the location or the people I meet along the way. It's around the same time this year that it was last year and things are different. As they should be. This experience is new, but truthfully, it's not as riveting. My standard for what keeps me excited and motivated for things has grown over the years. It's calm. Its a railroad that goes in a straight line that rarely sees any turns. I'm usually on the road that turns every few miles, which may be broken halfway through. Things are changing and I can't put my finger on what's changing exactly. I just know things are different this time of year than it was last year, and that's okay.

I can't help but think what ill be looking up on this new year's eve.