Go back to Europe.
The Start

Venice (Aug. 2008).
So there we were – sitting around the kitchen table shaking our heads in a merry disbelief. Ahead of us lay a stretch of free time we’ve never faced before: 8 weeks! It was finally here. We had spent the last few months prior trying to decide how exactly to burn it – use it for going back to some familiar places around the western United States and trying to dispatch some of our bigger goals or try something different? Though initially leaning toward the former, in the end (and with the suggestion of our friends) we went for the latter. Yes Sir! A two-month circuit of stamp-collecting conventions it was going to be!!
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Shirley on the pitch 10 traverse of Spigolo Giallo with Punta Frida in the background (August 2008).
Our climbing trip started with a whole shitload of driving (two shitloads in fact!) and little climbing. Drove down to California only to fail. Drove back up to Portland. Picked up our dog Blondie and spent the next three days driving the 3000 miles to the east coast where Blondie would spend the summer with my parents. A week into our trip and the only thing we really succeeded on was climbing my parents’ roof (to fix a leaky tile) – a project that I initially felt would go at 5.7 R (slab) but the roof material proved too slippery and the challenge was eventually solved A0-style ala FA of Lost Arrow Spire.
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Leading the super fun traverse pitch (#8) on the Pillar Rib (Aug. 2008).
Note: My Dolomite route ratings & pitch counts are quoted from:
Classic Rock Climbs in the Dolomites by Anette Kohler & Norbert Memmel. ISBN-10: 1898573344; ISBN-13: 978-1898573340.
The Climbs

Shirley nearing the top of the chimney pitches (this is roughly #13) on Tissi/Andrich/Bortoli (VI-, 15P) route on Torre Venezia’s south face (Aug. 2008).
Venice
Dolomites – Part 1: Cinque Torri
Dolomites – Part 2: Vinatzer (V+ 13P) on Third Sella Tower
Dolomites – Part 3: Trenker (V- 6P) on First Sella Tower
Dolomites – Part 4: Tissi (VI- 15P) on Torre Venezia
Dolomites – Part 5: Pillar Rib (VI- 18) on Tofana Di Rozes
Dolomites – Part 6: Spigolo Giallo (VI 14P) on Cima Piccola
Dolomites – Part 7: Comici (VII- 16P) on Cima Grande Di Lavaredo
Dolomites – Part 8: Steger (VI- 18P) on Cima Catinaccio
Photos

Good morning Venice...of course it's raining (Aug. 2008).

Venice (Aug. 2008).

Shirley strolling through Venice at the tail end of our first day in Europe (Aug. 2008).

St. Mark's Square in Venice on a stormy evening (Aug. 2008).

Venice (Aug. 2008).

Shirley experiencing the gelato overload in Venice (Aug. 2008).

Strolling aimlessly through the streets of Venice (Aug. 2008).

Through narrow alleyways (Aug. 2008).

The "Campanile" (Tower?) in St. Mark's Place (Aug. 2008).

View west from the top of the tower in St. Mark's Square (Aug. 2008).

Venice's Lagoon as seen from the top of the Tower in St. Mark's Square (Aug. 2008).

Some chunky tourists trying to sink a gondola (Aug. 2008).

Shirley in a rainy Venice (Aug. 2008).

Shirley in Cortina D'Ampezzo - another tourist trap but at least we're getting closer to the climbing (Aug. 2008).
Go to
Venice.
Go to
Euro Sampler – Meteora.
Go back to
Europe.