July 15, 2005

Word of the Day
natura: 1: nature 2: What causes JenFu’s jaw to drop and make him feel very small.

I think we have a system now.
Corinne and I had a major success today on the South-West Face of Piccolo Lagazuoli. We made an early start and managed to be the first party on the route. Sometimes it is helpful, though, to have another party ahead, “guiding the way”.

I managed to use almost all of the 70 meters of rope we had but could only utilize about five questionable pieces of protection. Missing the belay anchor at the top of the first pitch and then losing the second one as well forced the creation of one with natural gear. Luckily, that was the end of the true misadventures. The rest of the climb went as planned…meaning, as scary as expected! We topped out after five hours and enjoyed a chat about politics at the top.

The hike down was far more pleasant but definitely with more excitement than expected. The Italians use the term “trail” quite liberally. I would have felt better being tied into a rope at many points. The walk had to be more enjoyable for Corinne than yesterday’s stroll, since, today, she had her shoes. It did appear that the scars from yesterday’s toe-torture descent were still making themselves known.

As we drove back to camp, Corinne spotted a meal truck next to the road. The sign read, simply, “John Grill”. There was much fun to be had as John let Corinne work hard for her vegetable sandwich in Italian. It wasn’t for some time until he revealed his capable English skills, considering that John grew up in the U.S. He was an “ex-pat”, having moved to Italy some 15 years ago to run a ski-repair shop. The meal truck gig has kept him occupied with opportunities to tease visitors for the fast four years.

Dinner was once again at the wonderful campground pizzeria. Just when I thought pizza couldn’t be thinner, I enjoyed a wafer-thin pie. And, just as I thought I couldn’t enjoy prochiutto anymore, I had a pizza covered with it. It just went well with my mezzo litro of vino rosso.

Corinne wanted to walk off tonight’s extravagant meal so we took a pleasant walk through the woods by twilight. The stream was cold but soothing and the conversation was engaging, flowing from one topic to another. It is a fortunate thing to have friends with whom facades are completely unnecessary.


Tomorrow’s adventure is still a mystery at this point, but isn’t life that way. Corinne and I have guidebooks out now but what we climb or if we climb at all has yet to be revealed.
I hear thunder outside right now. Just to show that one can make plans in detail but destiny may veto it all.