Bucket List - Rock Climbing Trip

It all started when I was dating my husband. During his high school years, he worked every year for a rock wall vender at the Florida State Fair. I must say, as an impressionable teen, it was a plus that my boyfriend worked as a carnie for the State Fair. Ha!

Now fast forward a *few* years to December 2010. I purchased an online deal through Living Social for a belay class for two and admission at a local rock climbing gym, Vertical Ventures. Little did I know this would be just the beginning of a recreational activity that we would both immensely enjoy for years to come.

Now, for Christmas this year, my husband and I got memberships to Vertical Ventures until May and additional admissions, new climbing shoes, harnesses, new chalk bags, and (thanks to Vertical Ventures!) a crash pad. Turns out when I purchased Corey’s Christmas present, my name was entered to win a crash pad and I got it. I no longer can say that I never win anything.

(For those of you who don’t know, crash pads are portable mats you bring with you for outdoor climbing, mainly bouldering, to break your fall. Bouldering is a type of climbing that is lower to ground than sport or traditional climbing.)

Basically, the crash pad was the missing link for a climbing trip for us. Now we are just a full gas tank and a long drive away from climbing in the great outdoors on some elevation. This year, we are hoping to take a climbing trip and get our hands on some actual rock face. Since we’ve been actively indoor rock climbing in Florida, we both have had limited (and not ideal) opportunities to climb outside.


Here are two places we have on our radar that we would like to visit:


The Crash Pad – Tennessee

I’ve followed this business start-up on Facebook through their building updates. They are branding themselves as an affordable, boutique hostel in Chattanooga, TN. From what I’ve gathered, they pride themselves on three things: loving the outdoors, cheap rates, and clean bathrooms. I absolutely love the style and details. Check out their website to see their ‘superbunks’ and communal atmosphere.

HorsePens 40 – Alabama

Horsepens is known as one of the world’s most concentrated boulder fields! And it’s a mere 9 hours away. Entrance to climb in the park is around $5 and camping is $10 (read: night climbing!). One of the best times to climb is early spring, so I hope a rendezvous to Alabama is in my near future.

For the record, this one is a bit too 'high ball' for me.

See more photos here.


Little Rock City / Stone Fort

From my research, LRC is one of the most diverse places to boulder, with great routes for all skill levels and tastes. There is not camping on the grounds like there is at HorsePens, but since it's near The Crash Pad, we would definitely sleep there. Something interesting is that LRC is located on a golf course. The owner has been gracious enough to allow climbers to invade but just asks that they register online everyday before climbing and park in the designated spots. If you are interested in LRC, you can learn more about specific routes here.


What does this year have in store for your weekends?

Bucket List - Be the Caretaker of an Island

I’m not sure if it’s my affinity towards the television show LOST, but when I heard you can be a caretaker of an island I was all about it.

Newport, Rhode Island, is surrounded by coves, bays, harbors, and islands. Traveling from eastward in Rhode Island to get to Newport, you will have to take two daunting toll bridges, the Jamestown Bridge and Newport Bridge. (They might be typical bridges to most people, but for a girl who has grown up in Florida where elevation is nowhere to be seen, they are daunting for sure.)

You’ll need to quickly peek out the windows to your right when crossing the Newport Bridge to see the Rose Island. It’s a mere 18.5 acres and is in between Jamestown and Newport. In World War I and II, Rose Island was a part of the Navy Torpedo Station to store explosives. The area on the island that was used for military storage includes dilapidated buildings on the verge of collapsing. This part of the island is only allowed to be explored by 3 species of snakes (yuck!), birds, and harbor seals.

Now, the fun part. The Rose Island Lighthouse was restored in 1993 and maintained by volunteer keepers since then. They have three options to become a "keeper," including a keeping full-week vacation, a nightly keeper, and a full-time keeper, where your skills are matched to help maintain and restore the lighthouse and island. The last option also classifies as a tax-deduction for charitable contributions.

The worst part of this is you need to pay a hefty little price tag for this opportunity. Keeper fees range from $225-350 per night to $1000-$2300 per week.

Hopefully someday! Right now, it’s sitting pretty on my bucket list.