The Adventures of Kinky Reggae: A Vagabond for Beauty

Monday morning. Jack and Jason get up early to do Middle Leprechaun. Justine, Allison and I hang out at camp. All of a sudden, I remember that it is Monday and, even though I called in to work, I forgot that I was supposed to work night school and hadn't found anyone to cover for me. I freak out and speed into town to get reception. On the way back from taking care of that, I see two guys hitchhiking. They do not look like the hitchhiking type, and after passing them, I have this strong feeling that I should turn around and pick them up. One of them is in the Air Force, a Chicago native, and a Bears fan. Their truck broke down and they left it in Hanksville.  After dropping them off near our camp, Jason, Jack, me, and Justine decide to do a quick run of Shillelagh. We don't start the canyon till 3:00. As usual, the rest of the group is way ahead of me on the hike in, but I'm familiar with this hike. Or so I thought.  I start to get nervous because I haven't

I had SO. MUCH. FUN. in this canyon. "So, Erin, you gonna be a badass today?" Jason asked on the approach hike.  "We'll see..." I said.  The canyon was beautiful from the start. We soon came to a sweet elevator downclimb of about 20 feet. As I scooched my way down the wall, I paused and looked at Jason.  "So, I am being a badass?" "Hell yeah!" We shared grins of perfect understanding and he snapped this picture.  (Brian took this picture when I got to the ground. I was trying to look cute, but I had sweat dripping in my eyes and had just torn out the seat of my pants. It's not easy to look cute in the canyons!) Unfortunately, this is where things went south for Allison. We had 11 people in our group that day, which was ridiculous. Too many personalities in a small space. Jason stayed behind to get a picture of Allison on the downclimb while Brian and I went ahead. Jerry was at the back of the group, and

Our crew: Brian, my friend from Grand Junction. Pothole escape expert. Makes lots of really bad jokes. One of them most experienced canyoneers I know. Darin, a ski instructor from Aspen. Resume includes lots of hiking and outdoors activity, but only two canyons. Really nice guy, except for being a Packers fan. Clay, a mental health professional from Grand Junction. Quietly competent and capable. Laid back and good at telling Jerry to shut the f- up. Jerry, a grouchy, older man who somehow maintains a job as a ski instructor despite being one of the rudest people I’ve ever met.   Experienced canyoneer, but his personality prevents him from being helpful. We left at 11:15. Way too late to start this canyon, but Jerry was in no hurry, and Darin was too new to the scene to realize that this was a problem. Jerry was even slower than me. Such a different experience to not be the slowest member of the group! This canyon had an R rating due to a keeper pothole that

I need to blog about so many things. But first, a public service announcement. Friends, there is a new show on MTV called Slednecks. It is pure entertainment gold.  I think it's supposed to be like Jersey Shore, but in Alaska. But there's only two things to do at the Jersey Shore- drink and get laid. This is definitely not the case in Alaska. The things they do remind me of Jason Marshall antics, except in the arctic instead of the desert. Like the tug of war with their trucks. Partying on a glacier. Stripping and jumping into ice cold water. MTV often displays a thermometer so you're aware that it's 15 degrees and they're only wearing sweatshirts. And then there are the characters. The jealous girl who blows up her ex-boyfriend's clothes. The girl who thinks she's a model and had lighters made with her face on them. And the guy (who I think is supposed the be the heartthrob) who said, "Ironically, I just got out of jail for getting 69 speeding tickets.